Lagardère Travel Retail to debut inaugural Aelia Duty Free stores at Cameroon airports 

CAMEROON. Lagardère Travel Retail is set to open its first Aelia Duty Free stores in Cameroon, marking a milestone in its African expansion.

The stores, located at Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen international airports, will officially open on 10 April. Lagardère Travel Retail Western Africa won a contract to design and manage the duty-free shops, as reported by Business in Cameroon.

An official opening ceremony will be held at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport. The event will be attended by Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen; Sountou Bousso; Cameroon’s Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè and Cameroon Airports (ADC) Director General Thomas Owona Assoumou alongside key institutional stakeholders.

The launches mark the retailer’s debut in the Central African region and underline its commitment to stimulate regional economic growth, generate sustainable jobs and provide travellers an enriched and memorable experience.

As reported, the new stores follow the recent Aelia Duty Free openings at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, in partnership with Keyla Distribution Benin.

The Aelia Duty Free stores, which span a combined 500sq m, were designed in collaboration with Cameroonian commercial interior specialists. Built and furnished by local artisans, the stores blend contemporary retail design with a strong sense of place, offering an immersive shopping experience that reflects Cameroon’s culture and craftsmanship.

This project has already led to the creation of over 100 direct jobs and an equal number of indirect employment opportunities, thanks to the partnerships initiated by CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Western Africa Sountou Bousso. The initiative is aligned with the company’s stated goal of contributing to local value creation and economic resilience through inclusive and sustainable business practices.

The opening of the flagship stores is part of Lagardère Travel Retail’s broader ambition to offer travellers across Africa world-class service that meets international standards; while fostering deeper economic engagement in the markets it enters.