Images of the Day: An early (and positive) experience of King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1

Today’s images, taken by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, showcase the commercial offering at the newly expanded King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1.

Jan 27, 2025 - 20:43

Images of the Day: An early (and positive) experience of King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1

Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Duty Free Global from Ireland, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.

SAUDI ARABIA. Today’s images showcase the commercial offer within the newly expanded Terminal 1 at King Khalid International Airport, gateway to Riyadh, the latest impressive addition to the Kingdom’s fast-evolving aviation and travel retail landscape, writes Martin Moodie.

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and General Authority of Civil Aviation Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser launched the initial operations at the international T1 on 8 January, a critical element of a multi-terminal development. The T1 reopening follows the completion of terminals 3 and 4 in November 2022. T2 is next to undergo refurbishment.

As reported, Riyadh Airports Company issued a series of commercial tender packages in 2024 offering a variety of retail and food & beverage sites in prime spots within T1 and T2 plus the T1-T2 Link.

T1 and T1-T2 Link are now open while T2 is under development for around 12 months. The phased launch will boost T1’s annual passenger capacity from 3 million to 7 million, Al-Jasser said.

“We crowned 2024 with the launch of Terminal 1,” Riyadh Airports Chief Commercial Officer Abdulaziz Al-Asaker told The Moodie Davitt Report in an exclusive interview before leading us on a tour of the terminals.

**Martin Moodie and Abdulaziz Al-Asaker pictured at Riyadh Airports Company headquarters last week**

“Terminal 1 really showed our ambitions. With T3 and T4 we worked according to the limitations we have but when it comes to T1 we built the commercial areas from scratch.

**Click here to read Martin Moodie’s ongoing Blog from his extensive trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last week**

“What made it more beautiful and gave us such an excellent presence for the commercial area is that we have very strong partners. We have Avolta, SSP and Lagardère Travel Retail – very big players participating in these tenders – which allowed us to select high-level brands to elevate the terminal.”

Look out for our extensive feature with Al-Asaker in coming weeks. In the meantime here is a taste of what’s on offer to King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) passengers.

**The magnificent water fountain in the centre of the terminal serves as a focal point for the surrounding splendour {All photos: Martin Moodie}**

(Above and below) These panoramic shots taken in and around the Lagardère Travel Retail-run Riyadh Duty Free store capture the clean, elegant look Riyadh Airports Company sought from the T1 transformation

**After clearing security, passengers enter the expansive duty-free zone, drawn in by strong value messaging**

**Saudi Arabia is fragrances territory for both international and local brands**

**Tobacco products, well-merchandised and ranged here, are another key component of the sales mix**

**Fast-emerging cigar brand Gurkha enjoys a prime position within the expansive cigar humidor**

**T1 offers a diverse food & beverage and hospitality proposition, including FIX from Lagardère Travel Retail, already a smash hit at Dubai International Airport**

**As reported, UK pizzeria brand PizzaExpress has partnered with food and travel services group SSP to open at King Khalid International Airport**

**Plaza Premium Group brings its renowned hospitality touch to the Riyadh gateway**

**Lagardère Travel Retail’s Relay brand adds convenience retail to the mix**

**Local concept Dallah Coffee from Avolta marries memorable design with an authentic regional offering featuring Arabic coffee, dates and sweets**

**Avolta has introduced the Hudson Café concept, a fusion of dine-in and grab and go**

**Renowned Saudi firm Olayan Food Division Company brings perennial crowd pleaser Burger King to T1 travellers**

**Caffè Nero from SSP is presented in a nicely relaxed ambience**

**Jones the Grocer Express and PizzaExpress form integral elements of the Avolta offer**

A reminder of who won what in the 2024 T1, T2 and T1-T2 Link tenders

Package 1

Olayan Food Division Company offers Burger King, the world’s second-largest fast food hamburger chain, serving more than 11 million guests each year. The Olayan group has been involved in food services in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Middle East since the early 1990s, when the company acquired the Burger King franchise for Saudi Arabia and became the master franchisee for the wider region.

Package 2

This contract was awarded to Lagardère Travel Retail, which has since opened a FIX outlet in the T1-T2 link.

FIX – notable for the reverse F in its logo – is a highly successful brand at Dubai International Airport developed by HWH, which was acquired by Lagardère Travel Retail in early 2022.

It serves speciality coffee, fresh juices and seasonal dishes made daily from local ingredients.

Packages 3 and 5

Avolta, the travel retail super force created through the combination of Dufry and Autogrill (parent of HMSHost) in 2023, triumphed in Packages 3 and 5.

In Package 3 it will offer KKIA travellers an alluring mix of concepts. They include (soon to be opened) Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar – a first for a Saudi airport – and localised concept Dallah Coffee (pictured above), offering an authentic taste of Saudi food culture, with Arabic coffee, dates and sweets.

In the Mezzanine area of the T1-T2 link Avolta will open Giraffe, a family casual restaurant concept that has proved hugely successful in many airports. These include Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester in the UK; Barcelona, Bengaluru, Doha, Dubai (2) and Malaga (2).

Avolta will also operate a food court called Al Sufra Food Collective as part of Package 3. This will feature a diverse culinary mix including Karama, an Arabic offering; Taste of India; Slim Chickens; and a Mexican outlet called O’Tacos.

In Package 5, Avolta brings another cluster of top names to the KKIA F&B proposition. In T1 it is introducing Jones Express, Costa and Hudson Café; while in the T1-T2 Link it will soon feature Jones the Grocer. The offer is rounded off in T2 with another Costa and premium dining offer L’Eto (also a first for the Kingdom’s aviation sector), a renowned international restaurant chain famed for nutritious healthy food and exclusive desserts.

Package 4

SSP won Package 4, pledging to deliver a mix of six well-known concepts and brands across T1, T2 and the T1-T2 link.

On a phased basis the company is introducing two Pret outlets (T1 and T1-T2 Link); Caffe Nero (T1); Pizza Express (T1-T2 Link); Italian coffee concept illy (T2) and French bakery Maison Kayser.