FRANCE. French airport authority Aéroports de Paris (AdP) is to expand commercial space at its airports by 20% over the next five years, and expects sales to surge as a result. By Jonathan Brown

SWITZERLAND. Aeroboutique Sales Group (ASG), the partnership between Inflight Sales Group and Aeroboutique Inflight Retail, will take over the inflight sales programme for Swiss in April

BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free Shops (BDFS) has approved an extension to Aer Rianta International-Middle East's (ARI-ME) management contract for the operation until the end of 2010. ARI-ME has a 50% stake in the operator

HONG KONG. Five luxury boutiques opened at Hong Kong International airport on December 13, the latest to begin trading in the airport's new East Hall extension

DFNI looks back at another eventful year in travel-retail

As the distinctions between male and female beauty blur, an increasing number of suppliers and retailers regard men's skincare and, more recently, cosmetics as a passport to profit. But how can men be encouraged to trade up? Tina Milton investigates

As the year comes to a close DFNI speaks to four retailers and uncovers a palette of beauty predictions for 2004

The Lancaster Group's success in the suncare sector has inspired a revamp of the brand that takes the Mediterranean as its central motif. Jane Labous finds out how Lancaster aims to take its place in the sun

As airlines seek to improve revenue streams inflight sales are increasingly vital. To facilitate this process, a number of hand-held sales systems are available and many cabin crew are enthusiastic. Jonathan Brown talks to systems provider Novo IVC about its latest development.

AUSTRALIA. As part of its restructuring programme, Qantas is to outsource its inflight duty-free operation

UK. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's pre-budget report on December 10 received a mixed reception from lobbyists acting on behalf of the local travel-retail trade

Bookings and donations are coming in for the Raven Fox Charleston Follies Ball, to be held on Friday March 5 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London

CAMBODIA. Dufry Travel Retail opened new stores at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports last month

MIDDLE EAST. This year's Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) conference in Dubai addressed the rapid changes taking place in the region's vibrant market

US. The International Association of Airport Duty-Free Stores (IAADFS) is warning exhibitors and delegates to next year's Duty Free Show of the Americas that they face increasingly strict regulations on entry

UK/INTERNATIONAL. Developing a sales culture inflight was the central theme of a workshop organised by Travel Retail Training (TRT) as part of its build-up to this year's Inflight Sales Person of the Year Awards, held in London on November 27-28

ARGENTINA. Economic recovery and strong tourism numbers have boosted passenger numbers at flag carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas and duty-free operator InterBaires

SWEDEN. Schiphol Group and Stockholm Arlanda airport authority Luftfartsverket have formed a joint venture to manage retail at Arlanda's North terminal

UAE. Dufry Travel Retail has been awarded the contract to operate the inflight concession onboard Sharjah's new airline Air Arabia

SINGAPORE. Tax Free World Association has said it has sold over two-thirds of space at the 2004 TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition, which takes place from May 17-21

MEXICO. Mexican airports operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) has reached an agreement with incumbent tenants to vacate Cancún International airport's satellite terminal, which will mean the renovation of all the commercial outlets in the facility

CHINA. Inflight duty-free sales onboard China Southern Airlines, the largest carrier in mainland China, have proved so successful in 2003 that the airline has launched a second inflight catalogue this year

Does the Middle East need a dedicated travel-retail exhibition? After the close of the inaugural Middle East Exclusive event, the jury is still out

The growing importance of destination merchandise to travel retailers was one of the central themes at the Middle East Duty Free Conference, held on December 3-4 in Dubai

German liquor supplier Behn Originals has launched a packaging extension for its growing toffee liqueur brand Dooley's

Distributor Kollaras & Co has won a contract to supply wine and liquor to P&O Cruises' Australian fleet of six ships

Matusalem Rum introduced a new premium product to its portfolio last month

Following a wide-ranging brand review, Pernod Ricard has begun a new advertising campaign for Martell aimed primarily at two key consumer groups? Afro-Americans and Chinese Asians

Imperial Tobacco chief executive Gareth Davis has spoken out against the increasing burden of regulation on the industry, and called for tobacco companies to work more closely together to combat the threat from the authorities

US-based luxury tobacco manufacturer Nat Sherman is increasing its presence in travel-retail, and is to supply hand-rolled cigars on new ocean liner Queen Mary II. By Jonathan Brown

Greece's leading cigarette manufacturer Karelia has announced encouraging figures for the nine months to September 30, with duty-free sales showing even more impressive growth

Canadian fragrance house Michel Germain Parfums is considering its first steps beyond the Americas after almost 10 years in the business

Versace is looking to make its debut in Australian duty-free and consolidate its position in existing markets.

Diana de Silva has unveiled strong sales growth in Asia/Pacific despite the SARS outbreak earlier this year

Paris airport retailer Aelia could triple the space allocated to beauty at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport by 2006 if plans are approved

Zirh has reported a 50% increase in sales in 2003 across domestic and travel-retail markets.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is to reduce its inflight cosmetics and fragrance offer from March 2004 because of disappointing sales

Medical beauty brand NV Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals is planning to make its first move into travel-retail in Brazil by March next year

Estée Lauder Travel Retailing has introduced prestige skincare brand La Mer at Dubai Duty Free, and is planning other travel-retail launches in 2004

Hellenic Duty Free Shops (HDFS) is planning a shake-up of its confectionery supply chain.

Gourmet food specialist Hédiard will mark its 150th anniversary next year with a greater emphasis on the duty-free business, including more own-brand stand-alone shops

Godiva Chocolatier is rethinking its product strategy, updating refrigerated units and exploiting promotional links with domestic market activities in response to research findings about changing consumer attitudes

UK electronics and communications specialist TeleAdapt has reported a surge in new business following a successful TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October

German electronics company Minox has updated its DD1 miniature camera

US electronics supplier Bose has made its travel-retail debut at Pittsburgh International airport

Dutch electronics distributor Dufri International presented a selection of new products at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October

Italian jeweller Unoaerre has expanded its "sharing concept" in travel-retail, and expects to seal more partnerships with retailers over the coming months. By Jonathan Brown

Swarovski has released details of its spring/summer jewellery range for next year, and the emphasis is on ethnic inspiration

Swatchs latest tie-in celebrates the 75th anniversary of cartoon character Tintin, with two watches featuring Belgium's most famous fictional young reporter, created by Hergé

Jewellery and beauty supplier Liz Claiborne has said that its jewellery business fared well at the recent TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, resulting in several new outlets for its Monet and Liz Claiborne brands in travel-retail

UK travel-retail distributor Reeves & Mortimer (R&M) is anticipating a £2.5m ($4.3m) boost in turnover when it debuts swimwear brand Speedo's sunglasses in duty-free

UK fashion label Ben Sherman is set to grow its global presence through a licensing agreement with Anglo-Italian marketer and sunglasses house Fabris Lane

A new combined credit management company, fashion agency and distributor aims to give Italian brand owners a one-stop solution for developing a UK retail client base and for securing invoice payments.

As demand for high-tech fabrics in sports casual ranges increases, several leading fashion brands in travel-retail including Hugo Boss and Ermenegildo Zegna are quickly recognising the potential of waterproof insulating material Gore-tex