(30-Aug-2003) Dubai-based luxury goods agent Euroluxe has reported a surge in sales to the regional duty-free market in the first half of 2003, despite severe disruption to passenger numbers.

(30-Aug-2003) Cerealsur, a consortium headed by Argentinian airport authority Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 (AA2000), is to be the new operator at Montevideo's Carrasco International airport.

(30-Aug-2003) Turnover at Spanish duty-free and travel-value retailer Aldeasa grew to Eu270.1m ($306.9m) for the first six months of 2003, an increase of 3.3% on the same period in 2002.

(30-Aug-2003) News and books retailer WHSmith is considering the viability of its US operations at airports and hotels, citing the lack of a significant recovery following September 11 2001.

(30-Aug-2003) The Philippines department of tourism has unveiled plans for a shopping festival - the WOW Philippines Shopping Fiesta 2003 - to run between October and November.

(28-Aug-2003) EverRich Duty Free Shop Corp has won the latest duty-free concession on offer at Taipei Chiang Kai-shek International airport terminal one

(28-Aug-2003) The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has decided not to retender its liquor and tobacco duty-free concession, but to give the incumbent DFS a two-year extension

(28-Aug-2003) Swiss watch supplier Omega has opened a new flagship store at Hong Kong International Airport

(28-Aug-2003) The first phase of renovations at China's biggest duty-free border shop are being completed this week in time to capitalise on the surge in first-time travellers to the mainland

(28-Aug-2003) Uruguayan presidential secretary Raul Lago confirmed last night that the auction to privatise the management of Montevideo Carrasco International airport would go ahead today

(27-Aug-2003)

(27-Aug-2003) **DFNI EXCLUSIVE** Hermes' new Hong Kong international airport outlet marks the fashion group's first directly-operated travel-retail venture

(23-Aug-2003) Bulgarian finance minister Milen Veltchev has announced the withdrawal of his resignation, which he had announced earlier this month

(22-Aug-2003) The Scandinavian travel-retail industry has appointed a working group to deal with what it calls the "image crisis" facing the business in the region.

(22-Aug-2003) Fijian operator Tappoo Group has announced a F$5m ($2.6m) investment plan to upgrade its duty-free outlets, focusing on new space allocated to the retailer at Nadi International airport.

(22-Aug-2003) Finnish ferry operator Silja Line has begun a service linking Helsinki with St Petersburg.

(22-Aug-2003) An improvement in retail sales at Copenhagen Kastrup airport has offset a downturn in passenger numbers to help airport authority Copenhagen Airports achieve a 12% year-on-year profit increase for the first half of 2003.

(20-Aug-2003) The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has unveiled plans for a series of promotions aimed at driving tourists back to duty-free stores at Singapore Changi airport.

(19-Aug-2003) Russian carrier Aeroflot's hopes to double its passenger traffic to 12.3m by 2010 depend on improved airport infrastructure in the region, according to general director Valery Okulov

(19-Aug-2003) The department of transport has shown BAA plans to build three new runways at London's airports, according to local media reports

(19-Aug-2003) Tortuga Rum Company has opened its seventeenth Grand Cayman store in George Town featuring the island?s first Bijoux Terner boutique.

(15-Aug-2003) The poor performance of Korean Air?s duty-free operations has been listed among factors contributing to the carrier?s 12% drop ion revenue over the second quarter of 2003.

(15-Aug-2003) Travel-retail takes the brunt of the economic downturn as Wella sees fragrances and cosmetics sales grow in the second quarter

(15-Aug-2003) Hellenic Duty Free Shops profit for the first half of the year rose 30.2% to Eu16.25m ($18.47m), bolstered by a 16.2% gowth in sales.

(14-Aug-2003) The authority mulls the construction of an entirely new airport after dissenting voices deem Beijing's new terminal unfit for the expected Olympic influx

(14-Aug-2003) The carrier is to seek bids for its inflight retail business for the first time

(13-Aug-2003) German airport operator Fraport may be offering its consultancy and training services to Chinese airports under a joint venture with Shanghai Airport Group.

(13-Aug-2003) Maryland-based company Regional Retail Concepts is set to boost specialist retail of several US airports with a range of new store ideas.

(12-Aug-2003) Lojas Francas de Portugal (LFP) has gained extensions to its airport concessions until December 31, 2009 under a new agreement with airports authority ANA Aeroportos de Portugal.

(8-Aug-2003) Bulgarian border duty-free operators may be witnessing a reversal in fortunes following the announcement of finance minister Milen Velchev's resignation earlier today (August 7).

(8-Aug-2003) The government?s decision to offer shares in the facility faces a mixed reception as Hong Kong International and Shenzen airports discuss partnership

(8-Aug-2003) The Uruguayan government has issued a decree making several changes to the master tender to manage and operate Montevideo Carrasco International airport, now set for August 27 after a previous attempt failed to raise interest.

(8-Aug-2003) The introduction of new services between South Korea and Guam shows Korean travellers beating the Japanese back to Pacific Islands destinations.

(8-Aug-2003) Douglas Crossing Duty Free president Michael Beler has revealed plans to assemble a luxury offer to rival any border store when the company opens its permanent building on the British Columbia-Washington frontier next year.

(7-Aug-2003) Pernod Ricard has reported organic growth of 8% in the first half of 2003, with global sales of wines and spirits reaching Eu1.5m ($1.7m) despite difficult conditions in many markets, including Asian duty-free.

(7-Aug-2003) Kuwait Duty Free has achieved record sales for the second consecutive month, with July sales surpassing figures for the same month last year by 14.8%.

(6-Aug-2003) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' new online booking system launched yesterday may handle 40% of all its ticket sales in within five years, the company has revealed.

(5-Aug-2003) Abu Dhabi Duty Free's (ADDF) promotional campaign Summer Adventure has helped the operator record 19.5% year-on-year sales growth for the month of July.

(5-Aug-2003) DFS Group and the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation have reached an agreement over their long-running dispute over an estimated $49m in back rent owed by the operator.

(5-Aug-2003) Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has claimed a new monthly sales record, posting revenue of Dh114.7m ($31.2m) in July or over $1m a day.

(5-Aug-2003) The Taiwanese government has decided to enact the proposal put forward two months ago that tourists be exempted from the 5% business tax on purchases made in the country's stores.

(5-Aug-2003) Nuance-Watson (HK) opened the first of its new stores at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on August 4, following its successes in the General Merchandise and Audio-Visual Equipment tenders at Hong Kong earlier this year.

(2-Aug-2003) Duty Free Americas has begun operating at Washington Dulles International airport after previous incumbent The Nuance Group failed in its bid to overturn the recent duty-free tender result at the location.

(2-Aug-2003) Beauty house Estée Lauder has announced two key appointments to its European travel-retail team.

(2-Aug-2003) Liquor supplier Kyndal Spirits, formed after a £200m ($333.3m) management buyout of Jim Beam Brands' UK-based business in October 2001, is to change its name as part of a "thorough restructuring programme".