ASIA/PACIFIC. The formation of an association Asian duty-free association has been met with enthusiasm, but parties canvassed by DFNI have spoken of the need for a truly representative regional body, independent of the vested interests of a few dominant companies

FRANCE. The future of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport's newest terminal is in doubt after the collapse of a 30m (98ft) section of ceiling on May 23

HONG KONG. Cathay Pacific Airways will shortly announce the result of its tender to supply the airline's inflight duty-free programme

MALAYSIA. After confirming that Inflight Sales Group Hong Kong will begin operating its onboard duty-free offer from July 1, low-cost carrier Air Asia now plans to strike a deal to operate ground stores at Johor Bahru airport in Senai, southern Malaysia

SINGAPORE. WH Smith is to complete its withdrawal from Asia/Pacific travel-retail with the sale of its Singapore outlets to TimesNewsLink, a joint venture between Times the Bookstore and Hachette-owned Australian firm NewsLink

INTERNATIONAL. A recovery in passenger numbers in the first quarter of 2004 has boosted results at three of Europe's biggest travel-retail operators

INTERNATIONAL. King Power International Group (Thailand) was named Asia/Pacific Travel Retailer of the Year at the Raven Fox Awards for Travel-Retail Excellence in Asia/Pacific, held in Singapore last month

JAPAN. Nagoyas new Chubu airport, known as Centrair, is to house five branded fashion boutiques alongside Japan's biggest general duty-free shop when the airport opens next February

US. Airport authority Metropolitan Airports Commission is set to make a decision this month on the tender to run the small duty-free operation at Minneapolis-St Paul International airport

JAPAN. Duty-free revenue at Japan's second busiest airport Osaka Kansai fell by 1.8% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the previous year.

KENYA. Duty-free operators are hopeful that a government aid package could breathe new life into retail at Nairobi airport.

ASIA/PACIFIC. Tax Free World Association has announced a slight rise in the number of visitors to TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore this year compared with the last event in 2002

MALTA. Following the country's accession to the EU and the subsequent abolition of duty-free sales to EU passengers, Malta airport has adopted a new concept called Airport Value at its retail outlets

FRANCE. French trade body Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) has released the first instalment of its AFCOV Index for 2004

ITALY. More details of the speakers and topics to be covered at the annual Association Travel Retail Italy (ATRI) conference have been announced

CROATIA. Dubrovnik airport is enjoying rapid growth in duty-free sales in 2004, posting a 53% increase in revenue for the year to date

UK. Virgin Atlantic Airways will be one of the first UK travel retailers to implement "chip and pin", the card payment method being introduced in the country's retail industry

Danzka vodka has unveiled a travel-retail promotion timed to coincide with this month's Euro 2004 football championships in Portugal and the start of the summer holiday season in Greece

The accession of 10 new states to the EU last month has resulted in mixed fortunes for the liquor category, DFNI can reveal

South African drinks and tobacco marketing, distribution and retailing group Intra International bought Benriach Distillery from Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers for an undisclosed sum last month

Heineken has stepped up its plan to build its airport retail business after the successful trial of a stylish new aluminium bottle at Amsterdam Schiphol airport

Scandinavian Tobacco subsidiary House of Prince has expressed confidence in customised concepts following the opening of dedicated space onboard Tallink's newest vessel Victoria I

Campaigners at a workshop at TFWA Asia Pacific last month highlighted the threat posed to other product categories by the World Health Organization's stance against duty-free tobacco sales

Tobacco companies in the US could face a change in labelling requirements and descriptor restrictions similar to those in the EU following two new bills giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products

The Japanese government is to sell almost 300,000 shares in JTI parent company Japan Tobacco this month, taking its stake in the former monopoly to about 50%, the minimum allowed under Japan's Tobacco Business Law

Beauté Prestige International (BPI) has unveiled the first offer from its third designer Narciso Rodriguez

Cosmopolitan Cosmetics southeast Asia managing director Laurent Lautier has made an ambitious prediction of sales growth of between 30% and 40% for 2004

Parfums Christian Dior plans to capitalise on the success of its Poison fragrance with the launch of Pure Poison

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is to introduce a high-end fragrance concept in September

French brand L'Occitane is to make its debut in the inflight market selling its Mini Pure Shea Butter Lip Balm onboard All Nippon Airways' international routes from September

Parfums Christian Dior is to focus on skincare lines tailored specifically for the Asia/Pacific market, according to operational marketing director travel retailing Philippe Guitelmann

International is hoping to adapt the gift sets it sells in the domestic arena and for duty-free

The Nuance Group's overhaul of the Atrium at Copenhagen Kastrup airport has ended its involvement with Harrods International

Specialist distributor A&E Petersen has restructured its business to invest in more staff at points of sale, mainly in its Nordic stronghold

UK importer Skylark Trading is assembling a portfolio of fine foods - many from the US - which it believes will appeal to travel-retail consumers wanting gourmet items with novelty value

Drink Me Chai (Tea UK), a niche company which has introduced the US's chai latte craze to the UK domestic market, is approaching airlines about the potential for both inflight retail and catering

US book and music retailer Borders Group is planning a number of store openings in travel-retail this year and early 2005

UK model supplier W Britain has extended its historical toy soldier lines for domestic and duty-free markets

UK gifts supplier Halcyon Days has launched its summer 2004 collection

Diecast model car supplier RC2 has launched new products for duty-free and domestic markets

Mitsubishi Pencil Co has introduced a new merchandising display unit aimed at independent travel retailers

Belgian jewellery supplier Menno Design has formed a partnership with Starboard Cruise Services to open 24 corners onboard by the end of the year.

Organisers of the Baselworld watch and jewellery show in April claimed to have welcomed 89,350 visitors, 9,000 more than expected

London company Rotary has continued its pursuit of "affordable stylish timepieces" with the launch of the Rotary Revelation for women

Swiss supplier Tick Tack has extended its agreement with the Police brand to produce watches as well as sunglasses under licence

Crystal World has launched three new pieces for duty-free markets

US watch supplier Nike Timing has launched the Imara series of watches in travel-retail

Italian fashion house Versace's sister company Versace SA enjoyed increased sales of its watch lines in US travel-retail of 30% last year

French independent fashion house Sonia Rykiel is opening its first travel-retail outlet in Singapore this month, following a deal with King Power Holdings (Hong Kong) to sell Rykiel products at its fashion concession at Changi airport

Italian fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna is spearheading its Asian openings in the second half of the year with the opening of a new shop in Singapore Changi terminal one this month, adding to the store it opened in Hong Kong International airport last December

German cosmetics company Art Deco is aiming to turn its youth label BeYu into a lifestyle brand, with a mini-handbag/purse line expected to be on-shelf from the end of 2004

Hugo Boss has secured the first airport location outside Germany for a Hugo branded store, a step that could see further openings in the coming year