AUSTRALIA. As DFNI went to press Sydney Airport Corp's board of management was considering whether to approve the commercial department's nomination for the airport's main duty-free contract

MOROCCO. Following a tender launched earlier this year, Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc is set to adopt a new contract model by taking control of its inflight retail operation

SINGAPORE. Singapore Airlines is to establish a timetable for outsourcing its inflight retail business within the next month, DFNI understands

It was DFNI's boldest statement yet. To illustrate the urgent nature of the threat to duty-free tobacco, we set fire to the front cover of the June 1 2001 issue before it went to press, leaving a somewhat charred lead story explaining how the World Health Organization (WHO) was targeting travel-retail sales in its fight to reduce tobacco consumption

Even his detractors and keenest competitors would surely acknowledge that few are more qualified than Jean-Marcel Rouff to pass judgement on the state of the inflight retail industry

As part of the team that organised the event, this writer must admit a certain partiality with regard to the Global Travel Retail Summit, the industry conference held in London last month

Auckland's duty-free business, both on- and off-airport, has been in the spotlight over the past few months, with plans for an expanded arrivals retail facility at the airport and a new downtown venture from King Power Group (Hong Kong) and local souvenir retailer Aotea

Cathay Pacific Airways' ambitious plan to acquire Dragonair (DFNI June 15) is not the first example of a company paying heavily for access to mainland China

More people and company news

Tax Free World Association (TFWA) is seeking a chief executive officer to manage the association's organisation and all its activities, including exhibitions, conferences and membership services

Dufry Group has confirmed the appointment of former World Duty Free head of fragrances and cosmetics Nigel Keal as the retailer's global procurement director

Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF) has restructured its management team following the departure of deputy managing director Dan Cappell, who joined Aer Rianta International-Middle East as general manager of operations on June 18 (DFNI May 15)

Aelia's Paris Gourmand and French Days shops are an intriguing mix of mass-market appeal and specialist gourmet items—a welcome blend of contrasts in a category that is in danger of becoming too formula-driven. Michael Eaton pays the French retailer a visit

The impact of low-cost travel on food and confectionery purchases may lead to higher sales of snacking and sharing packs, but there remains a big demand for premium and destination gifts. Michael Eaton provides a mid-summer report on a buoyant confectionery and fine foods market

As co-founder of Inflight Duty Free Shop in 1986, Jean-Marcel Rouff transformed the inflight retail industry, creating a business model that changed the way airlines approach their service to passengers. Twenty years on, the environment has changed beyond recognition. In The DFNI Interview, one of the duty-free industry's most influential figures talks about the past, present and future of inflight retail

Hamila Duty Free's inflight operation has grown rapidly and now accounts for more than half of the company's total business. Since winning the Tunisair concession, duty-free sales on board have doubled. Tina Milton talks to CEO Tarek Hamila about past successes and future challenges

Inflight concessionaires face pressure on many fronts. Credit card fraud on board is a growing menace but inflight technology providers offer systems to help combat the problem. However, a recent patent application could pose a big threat to suppliers, as Lorna Strickland discovers

SINGAPORE. Focus Network Agencies has won the contract to operate a 30sq m (323sq ft) landside outlet at Singapore Changi terminal two's check-in hall north

BULGARIA. The Bulgarian government has awarded Fraport the concession to modernise, expand and operate Bourgas and Varna airports

UK. Speakers at this year's Global Travel Retail Summit, held in London on June 22–23, addressed over 130 delegates about ways to better target tomorrow's customers

NEW ZEALAND. Auckland International airport is considering selecting a single retailer to run its retail operation as one of several restructure options

NEW ZEALAND. As predicted in DFNI May 1,Wellington International airport has confirmed the appointment of The Nuance Group subsidiary Regency Duty Free as its new retail operator

RUSSIA. Retailer Lenrianta opened a new 150sq m (1,614sq ft) shop in the international section of terminal one at St Petersburg Pulkovo airport last month

CYPRUS. As DFNI went to press Aer Rianta International-Middle East (ARI-ME) was preparing to take over the duty-free and duty-paid retail operations at Larnaca and Paphos airports, where it begins trading on July 1

GREECE. Hellenic Duty Free Shops has revealed its ambition to acquire a supply portfolio of international brands following its ownership restructure

MALAYSIA. The second stage of development at Valiram Group's Flying Emporium retail area in the domestic terminal of Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA) has been delayed by six months as a result of difficulties with contractors hired to prepare the space for retail use

GERMANY. Hamburg airport has unveiled plans to open a new retail mall, SkyWorld Plaza, by 2008

IRELAND. Irish carrier Aer Lingus has "significantly enhanced" its inflight sales offer in response to passenger demand

UK. Bristol International airport officially unveiled its £7m ($13m) retail refurbishment last month

ARGENTINA. Argentinian duty-free operator London Supply is to extend its duty-free loyalty scheme to its outlets in Tierra del Fuego

SPAIN. Spanish airport authority AENA has issued tender documents for a 630sq m (6,780sq ft) departures outlet at Fuerteventura International airport in the Canary Islands

ARGENTINA. The long-running contractual dispute between airports group Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 (AA2000) and the Argentinian government has ended with the state taking ownership of a substantial share of the company

ROMANIA. The Romanian government is close to approving a proposal to close the country's border duty-free stores earlier than planned

US carrier Delta Air Lines has developed a range of ready-to-drink cocktails in partnership with Nantucket-based firm Stirrings. The drinks will be served on all domestic and international flights of more than 450 miles during the summer

Bacardi has announced the second annual Bartender & Chef Cruise Competition after the inaugural contest last year attracted 17 entries from cruiselines and ferry operators worldwide

Tequila Insignia has announced plans to grow its duty-free business outside Mexico and has identified Asia/Pacific and the US as its key target markets

Cooley Distillery, Ireland's only independent whiskey distillery, has launched a travel-retail exclusive single grain Irish whiskey

Diageo has launched a 12yo single malt in Asia/Pacific markets in a bid to meet growing demand for malt whisky in the region

A new nicotine drink is on trial at Los Angeles International airport (LAX) before being rolled out to 50 US airports. The lemon-flavoured beverage NIC Lite aims to alleviate the cravings experienced by passengers unable to smoke inflight

Hong Kong distributor Silver Base International Development Co has reported strong growth in Hongtashan premium cigarette sales in markets beyond China over the past year. Sales increased by up to 30% in overseas travel-retail

Cuban cigar supplier Habanos' co-owner Cubatabaco has said it will continue to fight for recognition of its ownership of the Cohiba brand in the US following a decision by the supreme court to uphold General Cigar's claim to the brand in the US market

More tobacco products news

Imperial Tobacco has reported strong sales of its premium cigarette brand Davidoff at Dubai International and Athens International airports after month-long promotions

The Puig Group took a crucial step in the development of its Nina Ricci brand earlier this month with the launch of women's fragrance Nina

The new women's fragrance from Parfums Givenchy, Ange ou Démon, will be introduced to travel-retail markets through a two-phase strategy later this year

YSL Beauté revealed its new interpretation of the signature Stella McCartney fragrance, Stella in Two, at a party at the Haunch of Venison Gallery in London last month

Irish airport retailer Aer Rianta Retail has enjoyed a year-on-year increase in sales of fragrances and cosmetics of 23.5% at Dublin airport in the first five months of 2006 by adding new brands to its selection

Dufry Group has revealed plans to further develop the interactive Beauty Pro Tablet in-store consulting system introduced by Brasif Duty Free Shop last year

French retailer Aelia has underlined its commitment to the skincare market and the growth of niche sub-segments such as cosmeceutical and "bio-natural" products

More confectionery & fine foods news

French premium chocolate supplier Valrhona is launching Les Exclusives, a range of three informal gift packs, this month

Godiva Chocolatier has achieved double-digit growth in the first half of 2006, with strong performances in Asia/Pacific and North America, according to business director Sylvie Fiers

Chocolate Sales & Supplies (CS&S) has gained the support of nearly all its confectionery suppliers for a pan-brand Shop & Win promotion at Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA)

Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) is to operate a new corner unit made available by Aelia for a month at a time to alternating suppliers at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CdG) terminal two

A core group of UK and Irish airlines have been urged by Masterfoods International Travel Retail (MITR) to share figures and experiences as it continues to build onboard sales at a rapid rate

Kraft Foods World Travel Retail (KFWTR) brand Milka has recorded triple-digit year-on-year sales growth with retailer Gebr Heinemann at Sofia airport following the installation of a Milka Cow personalised display unit in the duty-free departures shop

Cadbury Schweppes International Travel Retail (CSITR) has announced the results of a shopper insight research programme, carried out in cooperation with its key retail partners

US agent Alfa Brands has unveiled a new range of candy-with-gift packs for its principal brand Pez, which has agreed a character merchandising deal with Disney and Pixar for the animated feature film Cars, released in the US last month

German electronics supplier Minox added the DMP-2 device to its range of digital music players last month as part of a strategy to adapt to rapid changes in the consumer electronics category

Miami-based electronics supplier Solar Style is preparing to open its first travel-retail store. The company will sell its own brand of solar-powered chargers for handheld devices such as PDAs, mobile phones and digital cameras

Kensington Technology Group, the consumer division of ACCO Brands, has launched a range of computer accessories for domestic and duty-free markets, placing particular emphasis on airport duty-free stores

Aéroports de Paris (AdP) is to open a new jewellery and watches store at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CdG) airport following a sharp rise in turnover in the category in 2005

Caribbean duty-free retailer Kay's Fine Jewelry has expanded one of its stores to accommodate a corner for Canadian gemstone supplier Korite International

Swiss watchmaker Rado, part of the Swatch Group, has opened a number of new shops. In May the supplier opened a corner at Sydney International airport in partnership with DFS Group

New Zealand luggage brand Coast plans to target the travel-retail channel in its home market and Australia and will expand into the UK this year

French fashion brand Zilli, which operates airport and downtown outlets in locations such as Moscow, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, has finally entered its home travel-retail market with the opening last week of its first French airport store.

The revamp of the fashion offer at Frankfurt International airport's terminal one landside retail area has been completed. The former Ladengalerie shopping mall was renovated and relaunched last month under the new name Shopping Boulevard

More fashion & leathergoods news