(20-Dec-2002) A new global council has been created to represent the interests of the international duty-free and travel-retail industry

(19-Dec-2002) Dubai Duty Free has announced that sales for the year to date have reached Dh1bn ($273m) two weeks ahead of forecast, and are likely to finish the year with 20% year-on-year sales growth

(19-Dec-2002) Abu Dhabi Airport Catering & Duty Free managing director Mohammed Mounib has been named president of the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) for a two-year term, effective January 1

(18-Dec-2002) The trade association International Travel Retail Confederation (ITRC) has completed its move to Tax Free World Association's (TFWA) offices in Paris

(17-Dec-2002) Day one of the Middle East Duty Free Conference produced some lively debate among the leading operators in the region, with the issue of pricing among the most contentious

(14-Dec-2002) According to Italian press reports, French luxury goods supplier LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton is considering a takeover bid for Italian jeweller Bvlgari

(14-Dec-2002) Morrison Bowmore Distillers has extended its UK duty-free and travel-retail distribution portfolio with the addition of three new brands

(13-Dec-2002) Two weeks after the news that Argentinian operator InterBaires was taken over by Deutsche Bank, and airport operators Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 (AA2000) questioned the validity of the duty-free shop operator's concession contract, the three sides are still locked in meetings to clarify the situation

(12-Dec-2002) Penang-based Atlan Holdings has branched out from its core business of making metal gift products to acquire a duty-free operation on the Malaysia-Thailand border, as first announced to the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (TRW 05/09/02)

(12-Dec-2002) United Airlines has filed for bankruptcy under chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, following a failed attempt to secure a $1.8bn US government loan guarantee

(12-Dec-2002) Travel retailer Weitnauer Dufrital has confirmed that it will be not be bidding for the fashion concession at Rome Fiumicino airport when its current deal expires at the end of the year

(12-Dec-2002) Guayaquil Airport Authority (AAG) and a team of consultants led by Spanish bank BBVA have invited bids for a 15-year concession to upgrade and manage the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Ecuador's biggest city

(12-Dec-2002) After protracted overnight talks, BAA has reached agreement with unions over a pay dispute and averted possible strike action over the Christmas period

(12-Dec-2002) Inflight Service's contract for the operation of three outlets at Stockholm Arlanda airport's terminal two expires at the end of the year and represents a significant loss for the company, managing director Peter Candell told TRW

(12-Dec-2002) Bucharest Otopeni airport authority AIBO has announced the winners of the first tender for the former duty-free retail space at the location

(11-Dec-2002) Passengers at UK airports are facing the prospect of delays and cancellations over the Christmas and New Year period after members of the UK's largest union, the TGWU, rejected BAA's latest pay offer

(10-Dec-2002) The world's second largest airline United Airlines is struggling to stay afloat and has filed for bankruptcy in a US court today, marking the travel industry's biggest corporate collapse to date

(10-Dec-2002) LVMH Group ceo Marcello Bottoli is to step down, the company said today

(10-Dec-2002) After 23 years as managing director, John Herbert has become joint non-executive chairman of interior architects and airport design firm JHP, together with his wife Patricia

(10-Dec-2002) The following appointments have been made to Swarovski's travel-retail department

(7-Dec-2002) Cabin crew from Air Canada and MyTravel won the top awards at this year's Inflight Sales Person of the Year Awards, held in London last week

(7-Dec-2002) The latest results from almost 760 airports collected by Airports Council International (ACI) show global passenger traffic and flight movements were still down 3% and 5% respectively in August compared to a year ago

(7-Dec-2002) The world's luxury goods industry is going through a "maturity crisis" but has put all the correct measures in place to rebound when markets revive, said Morgan Stanley head of mergers and acquisitions Michael Zaoui yesterday

(7-Dec-2002) The authorities of the Aland Islands have announced they will not support Irish budget airline Ryanair in launching new air routes to the Finnish autonomous area which has become a booming destination for duty-free shopping

(7-Dec-2002) Christian Dior and a Virgin Music store by Hachette Distribution Services last week became the last retailers to sign up for Nice Cote d'Azur airport's new terminal 2, which had its opening ceremony yesterday

(7-Dec-2002) The European Commission last week issued a formal letter, rejecting the challenge of EuroCommerce and retailers to the VISA and other card companies' rate setting systems

(7-Dec-2002) The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today it has ruled against Nuance Group Australia and has accepted legally binding undertakings from the group over allegations of misleading advertising earlier this year by the Downtown Duty Free and City International Duty Free subsidiaries

(7-Dec-2002) Sheremetyevo airport authority has appointed a new director general, and is expected to announce further changes to its management in the next few weeks

(6-Dec-2002) **EXCLUSIVE** Bonardo Travel Retail (BTR) managing director Alain Bonardo has declared himself "betrayed, shocked and surprised" by the decision of Swiss Delice Ltd to terminate its agency contract with immediate effect on November 29

(6-Dec-2002) Today is the last day for bids for the Tax Free Rugby Association Ball e-auction

(5-Dec-2002) Per Lehmann is to leave the Swedish airport authority Luftfartsverket in the next two weeks

(5-Dec-2002) **EXCLUSIVE** The Senegalese government is planning to build a major new international airport to replace the existing Leopold Sedar Senghor airport at Dakar Yoff

(5-Dec-2002) Beijing Capital International Airport is to tender for consultants to design the commercial part of its new terminal building in January

(4-Dec-2002) International retailers have been knocking on India's door for some time, but only now is it beginning to show signs of creaking open

(4-Dec-2002) Final touches have been added to the programme of the first Middle East Duty Free Conference which will take place on December 16 and 17 2002 in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai

(4-Dec-2002) Houston Airport System (HAS) and the Xi'an Xianyang International airport recently entered into a cooperation agreement that will strengthen the airport authority's ties with China

(4-Dec-2002) As part of the restructuring of Abu Dhabi Duty Free's shopping concept, a new 45 sq m (484sq ft) World of Luxury outlet has opened featuring leading brands such as Bvlgari, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo, each within a dedicated space

(4-Dec-2002) Hawaii travel industry figures and leading retailers such as DFS have been stepping up efforts to improve tourism to the islands, gathering ideas and focusing more attention on marketing campaigns in Japan

(3-Dec-2002) TRW publisher Raven Fox is to organise a Baltic and East European Travel-Retail Conference next June, with several of the region's biggest operators pledging their support

(3-Dec-2002) Leaders of Hawaii's Department of Transportation have ended negotiations over the rent arrears of DFS Hawaii, saying they will pass the issue to the administration of Governor-elect Linda Lingle, according to local reports

(3-Dec-2002) The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published its proposals on airline charges for three UK airports over the next five years, paving the way for possible fare increases at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted

(3-Dec-2002) The Tax Free Rugby Association's forthcoming charity ball, to be held in Paris on December 6, is attracting strong industry interest

(3-Dec-2002) Nestlé International Travel Retail (NITR) has recently completed a major renovation of its two fixtures at Dubai International airport: a free standing gondola in and a free standing static display.

(3-Dec-2002) Bookings are coming in for the 2003 Raven Fox Fantasy Ball, in aid of children's charity Dreamflight

(3-Dec-2002) Dutch airport consultancy Market Square Consult has been acquired by Goudappel Coffeng, the biggest traffic and transport consultant in The Netherlands