BY KATIE AIZON
Journal Staff
The A.B. Won Pat International Airport will continue master food and beverage concession negotiations with DuFry International AG of Avolta Group, amid a pending protest from Nakicos Corp.
DuFry International AG was awarded as the Guam International Airport Authority’s retail and master food and beverage concessionaire during a special board meeting on Sept. 3. Nakicos was the second-ranked proposer.
According to the airport, Nakicos Corp., which does business as Subway Restaurants and Chili’s Grill & Bar, submitted a protest on Oct. 9.
During a GIAA board meeting on Oct. 29, John M. Quinata, executive director of GIAA, said the protest shared concerns regarding the request for proposal and alleged lack of access to the solicitation record.
Quinata said access to the record remains confidential, unavailable to the public until an award has been made, according to GIAA Concession Policies and Procedures.
Quinata denied the protest in its entirety by written decision under Section 4101(h) of the GIAA Concession Policies and Procedures, which states the executive manager must respond to the protest within a thirty-day period.
Under Section 4101(g), GIAA would not be permitted to proceed with a concession agreement until the protest has been resolved, provided board members concur with the executive director’s decision in writing.
Quinata urged board members to provide their written concurrence, as the airport may experience potential financial losses and delay concession operations.
“The master food and beverage concession is a source of non-aeronautical concession revenue for GIAA,” Quinata said. “Delaying award until final resolution of the protest in any appeal will postpone construction, commencement of concession operation, and ultimately the associate revenue that GIAA relies upon to fund its operation and sustain the airport.”
Board members voted to approve proceeding with solicitation and award negotiations with DuFry International AG, with Nakicos still able to appeal.
According to Marcos Fong, CEO of Nakicos Corp., which does business as Subway Restaurants and Chili's Grill & Bar, the company had questions specific to the RFP and award process.
“We felt there were inconsistencies with the award,” he said. Fong said Nakicos would be unable to provide further details at this time as the protest remains with counsel.
The airport also awarded Advanced Management Inc. for the GIAA ambassador program for three years, with the option to extend for another two years.
Sakman Logistics LLC was awarded operating and managing airport public and commercial parking lot concessions for five years with the option of extending for a period of three years, subject to GIAA’s discretion. An estimated $375,000 minimum annual guarantee is expected within the first year.
In airport updates, seat capacity in November increased by 16%, totaling 123,267 total seats compared to an October seat count of 106,291 total seats. Flight schedules saw an 8% increase as flights increased to 615 flights in November from 570 flights in October. November 2026 reflected a 23% decrease in seat capacity and a 22% decrease in flight numbers compared to November 2025.
The airport will hold a triennial full-scale exercise on Nov. 13, with federal and local agencies collaborating on emergency response training. United Airlines, as a participating airline, is also expected to test emergency responses with corporate representatives visiting the island to participate in the exercise. mbj
Journal Staff
The A.B. Won Pat International Airport will continue master food and beverage concession negotiations with DuFry International AG of Avolta Group, amid a pending protest from Nakicos Corp.
DuFry International AG was awarded as the Guam International Airport Authority’s retail and master food and beverage concessionaire during a special board meeting on Sept. 3. Nakicos was the second-ranked proposer.
According to the airport, Nakicos Corp., which does business as Subway Restaurants and Chili’s Grill & Bar, submitted a protest on Oct. 9.
During a GIAA board meeting on Oct. 29, John M. Quinata, executive director of GIAA, said the protest shared concerns regarding the request for proposal and alleged lack of access to the solicitation record.
Quinata said access to the record remains confidential, unavailable to the public until an award has been made, according to GIAA Concession Policies and Procedures.
Quinata denied the protest in its entirety by written decision under Section 4101(h) of the GIAA Concession Policies and Procedures, which states the executive manager must respond to the protest within a thirty-day period.
Under Section 4101(g), GIAA would not be permitted to proceed with a concession agreement until the protest has been resolved, provided board members concur with the executive director’s decision in writing.
Quinata urged board members to provide their written concurrence, as the airport may experience potential financial losses and delay concession operations.
“The master food and beverage concession is a source of non-aeronautical concession revenue for GIAA,” Quinata said. “Delaying award until final resolution of the protest in any appeal will postpone construction, commencement of concession operation, and ultimately the associate revenue that GIAA relies upon to fund its operation and sustain the airport.”
Board members voted to approve proceeding with solicitation and award negotiations with DuFry International AG, with Nakicos still able to appeal.
According to Marcos Fong, CEO of Nakicos Corp., which does business as Subway Restaurants and Chili's Grill & Bar, the company had questions specific to the RFP and award process.
“We felt there were inconsistencies with the award,” he said. Fong said Nakicos would be unable to provide further details at this time as the protest remains with counsel.
The airport also awarded Advanced Management Inc. for the GIAA ambassador program for three years, with the option to extend for another two years.
Sakman Logistics LLC was awarded operating and managing airport public and commercial parking lot concessions for five years with the option of extending for a period of three years, subject to GIAA’s discretion. An estimated $375,000 minimum annual guarantee is expected within the first year.
In airport updates, seat capacity in November increased by 16%, totaling 123,267 total seats compared to an October seat count of 106,291 total seats. Flight schedules saw an 8% increase as flights increased to 615 flights in November from 570 flights in October. November 2026 reflected a 23% decrease in seat capacity and a 22% decrease in flight numbers compared to November 2025.
The airport will hold a triennial full-scale exercise on Nov. 13, with federal and local agencies collaborating on emergency response training. United Airlines, as a participating airline, is also expected to test emergency responses with corporate representatives visiting the island to participate in the exercise. mbj
