AN inquiry into a lack of choice in Airport shopping has been halted by the competition regulator.
The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority has ended its investigation as a result of more retail outlets being given the chance to compete. The JCRA was investigating a monopoly created as the result of an exclusive agreement between Jersey Airport and the Alpha Airport Group, which is now owned by international conglomerate Autogrill.
The authority was investigating the provision of airside retail provision but closed the investigation because of recent and planned increases in the number of stores. The JCRA said that the moves by Jersey Airport to introduce new outlets should effectively end Alpha’s long-standing monopoly.
The current Alpha contract ends in 2017 and was agreed in late 2005 around the time the political system changed to ministerial government.
Assistant Economic Development Minister Paul Routier, who has responsibility for the Airport, said that he was pleased the authority had ended the inquiry. He said that there were plans for three retail outlets to open that were not owned by Alpha.
Pictured: An Alpha retail outlet at Jersey Airport
