Malaga Airport - satisfactory but not scintillatingIf you find yourself with a delay at Malaga airport, don’t get too excited about the additional time you’ll have to shop. Duty free shopping here • rather like the food and beverage service • is workmanlike: sufficient but not exciting. You’re likely to find everything you need here, but there are no great surprises.
That may change when the new terminal, currently under construction, is opened . It will virtually double the number of flights in and out of Malaga and promises superb new facilities which, we have no doubt, will include upgraded duty and tax free shopping. Malaga certainly needs it, the airport is one of the main hubs for tourist arrivals into Spain with passenger numbers doubling over the past decade to over 13 million (the majority arriving from the UK and Ireland). In the meantime, however, the works just cause disruption and make journey time into and out of the airport very slow. When you do arrive, check-in can be equally slow • particularly for low cost carriers • and you can be queuing for up to 1.5 hours.
So, first tip. If you want to have time to shop, leave yourself a good 2.5 hours for check-in, security and shopping before your designated boarding time.
Currently Malaga has two terminals and duty/tax free shopping is found in T2. There are five duty free shops in T2, all run by Aldeasa • so don’t expect any great differences between them! The main shop is upstairs (as is the main eating area)and is your best bet with a fuller range than the other outlets (more last minute shops located on the ground floor going towards and at B and C Gates). The layout is not great, but you’ll find a reasonably good range of tobacco, liquor, fragrances and cosmetics, watches, sunglasses, gifts etc. The store en route to C Gates is limited in choice and does not stock all the international liquor and tobacco brands; similarly the store at the C Gates area has a limited range. There are two further stores en route to the B Gates area, one tobacco and spirits and one perfumes and cosmetics plus a few accessories and gifts. Again the offer is limited compared to the upstairs store.
So what’s worth buying? Well, according to one well travelled local resident, tobacco is cheaper in the local supermarkets and, if you are travelling back to an EU country, there are no restrictions (within reason) on quantities purchased. Liquor is also generally cheaper, but don’t forget that you will need to pack in into your check in bag because of the LAGS restrictions.
Fragrances can also be cheaper on the domestic market, but Aldeasa frequently offers particularly good bargains on certain brands, along with travel retail exclusives (eg lines that you cannot buy on the high street). So if you are not too fussed regarding which fragrance you want • and maybe fancy trying something new • then you’re likely to be satisfied. Cosmetics generally are a better price than on the Spanish domestic market.
So what’s worth buying? Well, according to one well travelled local resident, tobacco is cheaper in the local supermarkets and, if you are travelling back to an EU country, there are no restrictions (within reason) on quantities purchased. Liquor is also generally cheaper, but don’t forget that you will need to pack in into your check in bag because of the LAGS restrictions.
Fragrances can also be cheaper on the domestic market, but Aldeasa frequently offers particularly good bargains on certain brands, along with travel retail exclusives (eg lines that you cannot buy on the high street). So if you are not too fussed regarding which fragrance you want • and maybe fancy trying something new • then you’re likely to be satisfied. Cosmetics generally are a better price than on the Spanish domestic market.
Luxury brands are not in great evidence here; although you will find Hugo Boss present within the main outlet. Additionally on the upstairs level there are separate Lacoste and Gonzaol Cornella stores, the latter featuring various designer brands such as DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana.
The other shopping choices here are mostly based on destination and souvenir products. There’s an Inerpiel leather goods and accessories outlet; various deli and confectionery type stores selling typical Spanish and Andalusian products such as wine, olive oil, jams, chocolates and sugar sweets; and a specialist smokers shop.
Finally, On Air sells music cds, dvds and assorted electrical lines.
In conclusion then; duty-free shopping at Malaga is..ok. Better than some, but it certainly doesn’t compare to the likes of London Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester which • as most of the passengers have come from there • may be a little disappointing. There certainly isn’t enough to keep you occupied if there’s a long flight delay……..so make sure you’ve got a good book with you just in case!
Malaga Airport Factfile
Situated 8km southwest of Malaga city, it is one of the oldest Spanish airports originating back to 1919.
Today more than 13.5 m passengers use Malaga airport annually; the airport services more than 60 countries worldwide but the busiest routes are to the UK and Ireland. Numbers will increase significantly with the completion of a second runway and third terminal; expected to reach 20m by 2015 • an investment of some Euros 890m.
The other shopping choices here are mostly based on destination and souvenir products. There’s an Inerpiel leather goods and accessories outlet; various deli and confectionery type stores selling typical Spanish and Andalusian products such as wine, olive oil, jams, chocolates and sugar sweets; and a specialist smokers shop.
Finally, On Air sells music cds, dvds and assorted electrical lines.
In conclusion then; duty-free shopping at Malaga is..ok. Better than some, but it certainly doesn’t compare to the likes of London Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester which • as most of the passengers have come from there • may be a little disappointing. There certainly isn’t enough to keep you occupied if there’s a long flight delay……..so make sure you’ve got a good book with you just in case!
Malaga Airport Factfile
Situated 8km southwest of Malaga city, it is one of the oldest Spanish airports originating back to 1919.
Today more than 13.5 m passengers use Malaga airport annually; the airport services more than 60 countries worldwide but the busiest routes are to the UK and Ireland. Numbers will increase significantly with the completion of a second runway and third terminal; expected to reach 20m by 2015 • an investment of some Euros 890m.
