CANADA. The Nuance Group will turn its attention to opportunities at US airports after securing an extension to its duty-free concession at Toronto Lester B Pearson International airport

BAHRAIN. Bahrain Duty Free and Bahrain Airport Services have gained approval from the civil aviation authorities to begin planning an extensive renovation of airside retail and catering areas, which will add about 1,500sq m (16,145sq ft) to the departures terminal at Bahrain International airport

Canada's border store operators gathered in Toronto last month for the nineteenth annual Frontier Duty Free Association convention. Despite a difficult year delegates once again displayed their determination to change things for the better at one of the key Americas events of the industry's calendar. Gavin Lipsith was there

Aldeasa has been running the duty-free shops at three airports in Jordan and onboard Royal Jordanian Airlines for three years. Despite political tension in the Middle East, the country has become an integral part of Aldeasa's international operations. John Gallagher speaks to chief operating officer Pedro Castro

The Middle East continues to show the world the way forward in driving airport and duty-free development. DFNI assesses the latest projects and plans among selected operators in the region

India's past attempts to restructure its airport and aviation industries have met seemingly insurmountable obstacles. And although the country managed to attract some international interest in its recent round of duty-free tenders, the mood among some operators suggests there is a long way to go before India fulfils its potential. Gavin Lipsith reports.

Ask anyone to describe the typical cigar smoker, and the answer is predictable; male, middle-aged, with a good level of disposable income. Many cigar smokers fit this description to a tee. But cigar manufacturers are looking to other consumers to boost sales, says Jonathan Brown

Selling cigars is not just about the size of your walk-in humidor. Getting the product mix right is crucial. And in the present climate of extra security, marketing restrictions and health awareness, accessories can play a big role in attracting customers. Jonathan Brown assesses the sector's potential

The marketing of tobacco products has been heavily curtailed over the past few months, particularly in European Union countries. No-one disputes the necessity of informing the consumer of the well-documented dangers of smoking, but the new regulations are draconian at best. Although it is cigarettes that have faced the brunt of these regulations, the cigar market is also deeply affected. Jonathan Brown reports

Good in-store design and category management are giving a few sunglasses operations the edge in a difficult year. What's their secret? Kevin Rozario finds out

URUGUAY. The Cerealsur consortium, now renamed Puerta del Sur, has taken possession of Montevideo Carrasco International airport a month ahead of schedule, following its successful $34m bid in the tender held by the Uruguayan government in August

UK. The UK airline bmi british midland has reported passenger growth of 18% in October compared with the same month last year. The airline carried 864,816 passengers in the month

INDIA. The considerable international interest predicted by Airports Authority of India (AAI) for additional duty-free space at 10 Indian airports failed to materialise as the deadline for bids passed last month.

JORDAN. Spanish operator Aldeasa has reported record monthly sales since June for its operations in Jordan, where it runs stores in Amman's two airports Queen Alia and Marka plus Aqaba International

GERMANY. Belgian operator Chacalli-De Decker is to open a 150sq m (1,615sq ft) duty-free and duty-paid outlet in the departures lounge of Niederrhein airport in Germany

The 2004 Raven Fox Charleston Follies Ball, to be held on Friday March 5 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London, is to benefit Orbis, a charity that strives to cure blindness in developing countries

CANADA. The newly-opened Douglas Crossing Duty Free store on the British Columbia-Washington border will face competition from a pre-order point operated by West Coast Duty Free if construction plans are approved

UK. P&O Ferries is to end its contract with warehouse operator and duty-free distributor CG Hibbert after 17 years.

SCANDINAVIA. The 20-strong working group of retailers, suppliers and landlords formed after the Nordic Travel Retail Seminar last August is to commission extensive consumer research to address the problems surrounding customer perception of the post-abolition retail environment in the region

SOUTH AFRICA. South African operators have put their case before the country's government in a bid to stop proposals to ban the sale of tobacco in the country's duty-free outlets

US. Schiphol Group International is holding preliminary talks with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) with a view to a retail partnership at Los Angeles International airport

NEW ZEALAND. Auckland International airport is to carry out a NZ$35m ($21.5m) renovation of its international terminal to separate arriving and departing passengers

CYPRUS. Cyprus Airport Group - a consortium that includes UK airport authority BAA and Cypriot construction firm J&P - has been eliminated from the bidding for the management of Larnaca and Paphos airports in Cyprus

UK. Members of the UK duty-free trade have reacted furiously to a Customs & Excise proposal that could jeopardise duty-free liquor sales in the country and onboard UK-registered mobile operators

Air New Zealand has jointly developed a new plastic wine bottle that could revolutionise the sale of wine in travel-retail

Duty Free Philippines (DFP) has been forced to defend its decision to lease out its spirits business to Colombo Management Holdings Ltd, according to local press reports

French absinthe brand La Fée is stepping up its efforts to crack the duty-free and travel-retail market with the launch of an exclusive twin gift pack

Inver House Distillers has added to its Balblair single malt Scotch whisky range. The limited-edition 24yo, launched last month, will only be available in selected specialist domestic and duty-free whisky outlets

The owners of revived malt whisky brand Tullibardine plan to introduce a new range of vintage references next year as production at the distillery gets under way after nearly a decade of inactivity

Travel retailers are anxiously awaiting an outcome following their submissions to the South African government on the proposed ban on duty-free tobacco sales

UK-based tobacco supplier Imperial Tobacco has reported a 44% increase in operating profit for the year ending September 30, achieving £1.135bn ($1.9bn)

Paris Charles de Gaulle's new La Cave a cigares store welcomed pianist and cigar connoisseur Avo Uvezian on November 14, to celebrate its recent opening. By Jonathan Brown

YSL Beauté's worldwide sales in travel-retail have increased by 5% in the year to date compared to the same period in 2002 and are likely to record double-digit growth in 2004, according to director travel-retail worldwide Caroline Olive. By Tina Milton and Dermot Davitt

Sogen has unveiled plans to increase its travel-retail sales revenue to between 5-10% of total volumes by the end of 2004

P&G Prestige Beauté previewed its first fragrance from Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto at this year's TFWA World Exhibition

Alfred Sung Paradise is the latest in the designer's fragrances range from Canada's Riviera Concepts

Chanel, Estée Lauder, Christian Dior, Lancôme and Giorgio Armani will be among the brands at the fore in a beauty store set to open in the Maldives capital Malé in 2004

The travel-retail market is to play a key role in L'Oréal's plans to develop Japanese cosmetics brand Shu Uemura into a global player when it takes control of the company in the new year

Asia will be one of the key areas to drive predicted double-digit growth of the Christian Dior skincare portfolio as traveller confidence returns in 2004, according to Christian Dior international director travel retailing André de Bausset

P&G Prestige Beauté is to move into the male grooming market by 2005 via one of its flagship brands Boss, according to director travel-retail Jürgen Jost

Danish border shop operator Fleggaard Dan Discount is seeking to add more food- and drink-focused outlets to the four stores it already operates in northern Germany

Paris-based Fauchon, which already supplies its gourmet range of food to airport operators, has expressed interest in developing a working partnership to operate specialist shops

Churchill's Confectionery is introducing two new Picture Gallery tins, which export manager Emma Bodnitz hopes will mark the start of a range of collectibles

Lindt & Sprüngli has doubled the size of its Assorted Napolitains Carrier Boxes range with new 250g and 750g options

Bahrain importer and distributor Faieq AlZayani is poised to expand its confectionery portfolio next year and aims to raise its profile through involvement with the Formula One Grand Prix circuit, which makes its first appearance in the country next April

UK distributor Myriad International is to launch the entire range of Groovy Girls to duty-free. US toy company Manhattan Toy will supply the soft-toy dolls along with other ranges that have enjoyed success in local markets

US distributor Zelco has launched a range of products in time for the Christmas season

The number of visitors to the Braun stand was up 2% on last year's TFWA World Exhibition, according to Braun duty-free sales agent Klaus Mellin

French gifts operator Relay is set to open a new store in the Eurostar terminal of Paris Gare du Nord

Swarovski has launched its range of Christmas crystal decorations

UK travel retailer Alpha Retail has increased its presence at the Eurotunnel rail passenger terminal with the opening of a Zinq Fashion accessories store

Swatch has expanded its Dada range with the introduction of the Dadazüri Turnover limited edition watch

Monaco-based jewellery supplier Misaki has said that it plans to expand its travel-retail presence following positive meetings at this year's TFWA World Exhibition

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will introduce a third free-standing sunglasses store in 2005 when construction of the new Schengen terminal is complete

Another fashion line of sunglasses is set to enter travel-retail following a licensing deal this summer between Italian leathergoods and fashion house Alviero Martini and eyewear maker Sover

Swiss luxury goods house Bally, known for its shoes in travel-retail, has unveiled a retro-style range of women's leathergoods and luggage for next season

DFNI understands that Etienne Aigner is in the advanced stages of negotiations to secure another two airport duty-free locations in China, adding to the three it already has in the region. An announcement is expected in January