Great news: World’s first retail chain opens new store at Budapest Airport
The UK-based WHSmith continues its global expansion. After opening its first store at Budapest Airport in January, it has now opened a second one.
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian Facebook page reporting aviation news, in recent weeks, a new 269-square-metre store has opened in the Sky Court terminal of Budapest Airport. This is the second store at the airport, as a smaller store was previously opened on the departure side of Terminal 2B, as we reported HERE.
New WHSmith store at Budapest Airport
According to Világgazdaság, WHSmith usually opens shops at airports. However, its network is more extended than the ordinary duty-free shops at the airgates. The chain was founded in 1792 as a family-owned newspaper seller. Later, it became a global network and the world’s first retail chain. Last year, they celebrated their 231st anniversary.
They have more than 600 shops in the United Kingdom, mostly in the downtowns and main shopping streets, malls. An additional 800 shops are at airports, train stations, hospitals and near motorways. WHSmith is present in Australia, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East in 32 countries. Its portfolio includes 120 airports. It pays special attention to selling local products in the different countries.
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Airports are becoming glitzy, overpriced shopping malls, with the actual flying in and out part tacked on as an afterthought. I don’t go to the airport to shop and eat and drink. I go to hand in or pick up my bags, get to or from my plane, and get up in the air or out the building, all as quickly as humanly possible. So how’s this for an idea: Make (much!) more of an effort the flights leave and arrive on time, the security procedures are as quick and stress-free as possible, luggage doesn’t get lost, and there’s plenty of comfortable, bright, spacious waiting area. Also, stop serving alcohol, and ban people who are visibly drunk from boarding airplanes. In Budapest in particular, connect the airport to the city with light rail or subway.