The internationally-successful travel retail company Aer Rianta International, which was founded in Shannon, faces a battle to maintain it's association with the Airport.
Shannon Airport is seeking a partner to run it's travel retail store, and plans a revamp which will honour the founding of duty free shopping there.
Under a transitional agreement following the Airport's seperation, Aer Rianta International currently provides a number of services including buying, distribution and marketing to Shannon's travel retail outlet, known as The Loop,
However, a new international partner is now being sought to operate the shop with the Shannon Airport Authority under a ten-year contract.
The advertisement stipulates this firm already has an annual turnover of at least €250 million. It's also intended that the new partnership will bid for travel retail opportunities in other international airports.
The facility will see it's original name of 'Shannon Duty Free', first seen in 1947, restored when the new arrangement begins in July.
Aer Rianta International has told Clare FM that it's reviewing the information published by Shannon.
ARI is owned by the Dublin Airport Authority, and operates airport retail units across the globe, but it was originially established in Shannon by the late Dr. Brendan O'Regan, and maintains a corporate presence there.
This, it says, will be unaffected by these developments.
