Lagardère AWPL selected to operate duty free and travel essentials at Western Sydney International Airport

Lagardère AWPL is delighted to confirm that it has been selected to operate 11 stores at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), Sydney’s soon-to-open 24-hour gateway. This partnership represents an exciting new phase of the company’s growth in Australia, underscoring its ambition to create retail experiences that meet travelers’ ever-changing needs and cater to a wide range of passengers, while showcasing the country’s unique cultural identity.

With a total retail space of around 3,100 sqm – including 1,900 sqm dedicated to Duty Free and 1,200 sqm to Travel Essentials and specialty retail – Lagardère AWPL will operate across both international and domestic precincts. Passengers will discover a premium selection of international brands, travel-exclusive products, and a distinctive “best of the west” concept showcasing the vibrant culture of Western Sydney.

Costa Kouros, CEO of Lagardère AWPL, commented: “Our mission is to create magical moments for every passenger, every day. This partnership allows us to deliver on that promise for the very first travelers who pass through WSI, offering both convenience and inspiration in a beautiful, modern airport environment.
“We’re proud to have been selected as commercial partner to WSI. This win is testimony to the amazing work the Lagardère AWPL team do every day, and to the strength and variety of our portfolio of retail concepts.”

Frédéric Chevalier, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail, added: “Western Sydney International is one of the most exciting airport projects in the Asia Pacific region. Lagardère AWPL is thrilled to bring duty free and travel essentials operations to this stunning new gateway. We look forward to creating a truly unique retail experience for travellers, combining the biggest international brands with the best of Australia and New South Wales.”

Simon Hickey, CEO of Western Sydney International Airport, said: “We’re incredibly proud to welcome a retailer of Lagardère AWPL’s calibre to WSI. Their commitment is a strong vote of confidence in what we’re building here, a game-changing 24-hour airport that reflects and celebrates the community it serves. Passengers can look forward to a premium retail experience featuring iconic brands, travel-exclusive products, and the best of Western Sydney.”

Retail fit-outs are expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with the airport slated to open for domestic, international, and cargo services in the second half of the year. This collaboration further strengthens Lagardère AWPL’s position as the leading travel retailer in the Pacific region, building on a footprint of more than 150 stores across Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, and Canberra.

About Lagardère AWPL
A partnership years in the making, Lagardere AWPL is the Pacific region’s largest and most experienced Travel Retail operator.
We are globally enabled through the backing of Lagardere Travel Retail and our passionate teams across Australia, New Zealand and Noumea are empowered to execute locally for our customers and landlord partners. 
With over 2,000 passionate team members across more than 150 stores in 26 airports, we are the only operator in the region capable of delivering unique experiences to our customers and partners across four distinct business lines: travel essentials, specialty, duty free & fashion and dining.

About Lagardère Travel Retail
Lagardère Travel Retail, a subsidiary of Louis Hachette Group (through Lagardère Group), an international group listed on Euronext Growth Paris, is a leading global Travel Retailer, with the longest standing expertise of serving the needs of travelers and partners across Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Dining. Lagardère Travel Retail operates over 5,000 stores in airports, railway stations and other concessions in over 50 countries, and has generated €7.6 bn in sales (100%) in 2024. 
​We harness our pioneering culture to make travel more enjoyable with bespoke offers and experiences. We invest our world-class global expertise and local knowledge to design value-creating partnerships and experiences for our stakeholders: landlords, brands, travelers, employees and communities.  ​ We actively champion the more sustainable future of Travel Retail through our comprehensive CSR strategy, covering all aspects of where we, as a business, have an impact and can make a difference.  
www.lagardere-tr.com  ●  @LagardereTR