UK. BAA has responded to speculation that its new owner Grupo Ferrovial is in talks to sell the company's retail division World Duty Free (WDF)

DENMARK. MyTravel Airways Scandinavia has delisted all products from Parfums Christian Dior following a disagreement over pricing

UK. Alpha Airports Group CEO Peter Williams has insisted that the company has "a bright future" as it emerges from the turmoil that led to the departure of predecessor Kevin Abbott and finance director Heather McRae and caused trading in the company's shares to be suspended

It would be unfair to compare the controversy over Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson airport's duty-free contract to a Hollywood thriller

Nine years ago DFNI reported on a deal whose repercussions continue to be felt today

Last year it was SAS; now another of Europe's airlines has decided to bid farewell to its ground retail business

What bureaucrats give with one hand, they take away with the other. So it will doubtless prove in Romania, where the authorities' decision to close all duty-free border shops within less than three months is likely to coincide with a move to restore airport duty-free in the country, almost four years after it was banned in controversial circumstances (DFNI September 15 2002)

With short dwell times a constant source of frustration for travel retailers, it has become crucial for operators to make more of the time that they have with customers. Increasingly, that means targeting them before, during and after their trip

The walk-through retail concept has been embraced with such vigour by many of the world's most progressive travel retailers that it is tempting to see it as the saviour of the global industry

The re-listing of Alpha Airports Group's shares and the completion of its investigation into the ill-fated Excel Airways catering deal must have come as a relief to everyone at the company's UK base

If the Swiss government decides to introduce arrivals duty-free legislation next month, several parties will be delighted

BAA's denial that discussions are under way regarding a possible sale of its retail division World Duty Free (WDF) is unlikely to silence the rumours surrounding the business since the Ferrovial takeover

Aer Rianta Retail director Frank O'Connell was unanimously re-elected as president of the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) at the trade body's annual general meeting late last month

More people and company news

Small items once dominated the leathergoods category in travel-retail, but today airport shopping malls have become a haven for larger items. And as the trend for luxury continues, a more balanced retail landscape is emerging. Kevin Rozario reports

New onboard baggage regulations being introduced by airlines will affect luggage sales—and not everyone is happy about it. Kevin Rozario assesses the impact of the move

The fourth Global Travel Retail Summit, subtitled Targeting the Travelling Millions: The Next Decade, offered a diverse mix of perspectives on an evolving business. DFNI looks back on the highlights of the event

As cruise passengers flock to sail the Mediterranean, the battle for passenger spend between onboard operators and port stores is intensifying. Emily Pacey explores the undercurrents of a rapidly growing business

Birmingham airport is building a retail offer to rival any at the UK's bigger locations. Operated by Alpha Retail, the airport's new tax-free store in terminal one signals a change of commercial strategy for landlord Birmingham International Airport Ltd. John Rimmer visits the second city

The tenth annual ASUTIL conference, to be held in Santiago de Chile on September 6–8, will feature one of the strongest speaker line-ups yet seen at Latin America's premier duty-free event

URUGUAY. Eurnekian Group, leading shareholder in airport operators Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, Ecuador's TAGSA and Puerta del Sur in Uruguay, has purchased Perfumerías San Roque, Uruguay's leading domestic beauty chain

NORTH KOREA. DFNI understands that the Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO) has signed a contract with development company Hyundai Asan to manage the new duty-free shop at the Onjunggak-2 East building in North Korea's Geum Gang San mountain resort

SWITZERLAND. The Swiss government is to decide whether to introduce arrivals duty-free legislation next month, according to the group lobbying for approval. If ratified, legislation could be introduced by May 2007

UK. Leeds Bradford International airport has renewed its search for retailers to operate speciality concept stores

INDIA. Gebr Heinemann has joined forces with five-star hotel chain Oberoi Group in its bid to secure airport duty-free contracts in the Indian market

URUGUAY. Uruguayan duty-free operator Zeinal Hermanos has reported a 30% increase in sales in the first six months of 2006

FRANCE. Lyon airport plans to extend its duty-free area as part of an expansion of terminal one to be completed by 2009, although the initiative will depend on the amount of investment allocated to the refurbishment

BELGIUM. Diplomatic and military supplier Chacalli-De Decker has completed a one-year programme of change resulting in a retail rebranding, the redesign of its website, new offices and a new management information system that gives all employees access to detailed sales data. Executive director Mike Sheriff said the system would "drive the profitability of customers' shopping baskets".

GERMANY. German retailer and wholesaler Gebr Heinemann has secured an extension to its contract with Frankfurt airport authority Fraport

ROMANIA. The Romanian government has approved a proposal to close the country's border duty-free stores within 90 days

UK. Cruiseship concessionaire Harding Brothers is developing its own in-house brand, Daisy Chain, for onboard sale

NETHERLANDS. Following airport authority Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's announcement that it is to take over the airport's liquor and tobacco concession on January 1 2007 (RavenFox.com July 5), incumbent KLM Tax Free Services said it is "happy to have clarity on the subject"

SAUDI ARABIA. The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has revealed the list of pre-qualified companies that have registered interest in the contract to run duty-free at the airports of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam

ECUADOR. Terminal Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil SA (TAGSA), which won the tender to manage and renovate Ecuador's Guayaquil International airport in December 2003, has announced that the new terminal building will be inaugurated on schedule at the end of this month

SWEDEN. The Nuance Group has completed refurbishments at Malmö Sturup airport, doubling the store space it took over in January after winning a tender late last year (RavenFox.com December 5 2005).

UAE. Dubai Duty Free's (DDF) sales increased by 15% to $323m in the first half of this year. The beauty category posted particularly strong growth, with fragrance sales up by 25% and cosmetics by 42%

CAMBODIA/ALGERIA. Dufry Group has opened new stores in two of its most crucial emerging markets

SINGAPORE. Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) hopes to attract a premium mix of retail tenants to the new Singapore Changi airport terminal three, due to open in early 2008

Leading French travel retailer Aelia has launched a white spirits cocktail-tasting initiative at its stores at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport terminals one and two

Danish independent supplier Spiritus Distillers has launched a rum-based liqueur, Crocodile Rum Cream Liqueur, into international travel-retail and domestic markets

Specialist malt whisky merchant Gordon and MacPhail has launched the world's first organic single malt Scotch whisky from the company's Benromach distillery

Jamaican duty-free liquor chain Rum Roast and Royals plans to expand its store network to other Caribbean islands and the UK

Cuban cigar supplier Habanos is to launch limited-edition cigars for its Cohiba, Montecristo and Partagás brands this year. The company has begun to distribute its Cohiba Pirámides and Montecristo Robustos, and plans to introduce Partagás Serie D No 3 in September

The European Commission (EC) has ended its investigation into the UK's policy of seizing goods and vehicles from passengers believed to be importing liquor and tobacco for sale to a third party

Industry campaigners are awaiting clarification on a bill that could threaten self-service sales of tobacco products throughout Sri Lanka

The European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) has raised concerns about proposed changes to allowances for travellers entering the EU from a third country, which would remove the separate inbound fragrances allowance and incorporate it into the overall limit

Lancôme has added Miracle Forever to its fragrance portfolio in a bid to target a younger audience. The original Miracle juice is pitched at women aged between 30 and 40

Elizabeth Arden has revealed global expansion plans for its newly-acquired Riviera Concepts fragrance portfolio. Elizabeth Arden purchased brand licences and "certain assets" from Riviera earlier this month

French retailer Aelia has opened its first branded beauty outlet as part of a drive to revamp its Beauty Unlimited retail concept

Lyon airport is to expand the beauty area at its 185sq m (1,990sq ft) duty-free and duty-paid shop in terminal two by at least 20sq m (215sq ft) by the end of the year

Biotherm has added to its Aquasource Superserum moisturiser range in a bid to attract new consumers. The launch is part of the brand's strategy to increase sales by 20% in the coming year

LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton-owned Benefit Cosmetics is to increase its travel-retail presence following the appointment of Mark Ozmen as travel-retail manager earlier this year

Singapore-based confectionery distributor Distriworld is rebuilding its business after losing two of its biggest licences, Toms Confectionery and Chocolaterie Duc d'O, in recent months

Australian specialist chocolate company Paton's Macadamias has appointed Distributions Fontaine to represent it in Canada, where the brand already supplies Aer Rianta International-North America

Confectionery specialist Perfetti van Melle has acquired Spanish manufacturer Chupa Chups—best known for its lollipops and Smint mints—for an undisclosed sum

Netherlands-based travel retailer Capi has won a five-year extension to its contract at Oslo International airport

UK-based writing instruments retailer The Pen Shop has relocated its store at London Gatwick airport north terminal. The outlet has been moved to the other side of the departures lounge, which the retailer believes to be a busier location

Dutch electronics distributor Dufri International has been bought by two of its senior managers. Commercial director Wim Heemskerk and financial director Andrea Taekema purchased the company from owners and CEOs Sheila de Best and Nico Attema. The new management took control at the beginning of July

Swiss watch supplier Montres Charmex has so far failed in its bid to appoint a distributor for duty-free markets in Africa and the Middle East

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has teamed up with Australian jewellery supplier Toscow as part of a promotion celebrating the airline's 60th anniversary

Swatch Group-owned watch supplier Longines achieved double-digit sales growth in travel-retail during the first six months of this year, the company told DFNI

Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), one of the world's biggest mass-market fashion retailers with 1,200 stores in 22 countries, has opened its first travel-retail store at Amsterdam Schiphol airport's landside Plaza shopping centre. The store is the first H&M shop in the Netherlands dedicated to women's accessories, including belts, scarves and jewellery

Luggage label Samsonite has signed a deal with one of the UK's best-known fashion designers, Alexander McQueen, to produce a luxury collection of travel bags, luggage and travel accessories

Fashion brand Austin Reed is to open two stand-alone outlets at Birmingham International airport in the coming months. The first will open in the post-security area of terminal two in August, with a bigger second store to follow in T1 landside in February 2007

US bag supplier Travelon plans to enter the European airport market after it acquired the rights to the brand in the region

LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton-owned leathergoods house Lancel is conducting a full review of its travel-retail business as part of a company-wide re-evaluation of the brand's positioning