Global adoption of EU security poses transfer sales threat

Gavin Lipsith

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The International Civil Aviation Organization’s recommendation could mean further problems for sales to transfer passengers worldwide

Global adoption of the security standards imposed at EU airports since November 6 will mean that the problem of liquid sales to transfer passengers will get worse before it improves, industry lobbyists have warned. The statement follows the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) decision to recommend the implementation of the EU restrictions worldwide.

Passengers flying from non-EU countries transferring within or through the EU have had liquids over 100ml confiscated at transfer airports since November 6, and lobbyists warned that without mutual recognition of security standards all transfer passengers worldwide could have their liquid purchases confiscated.

Speaking at the Middle East Duty Free Association conference in Dubai, BAA business relations director Sarah Branquinho informed delegates that ICAO is to send a letter to its 150 member states on December 1, recommending that the standards be adopted at all international airports. She added that unless all airports recognise each other’s security, transfer sales would be endangered.

“It would effectively end sales to transfer passengers unless we can work out mutual recognition,” she said. “We need to make it clear to ICAO that if we do not have that recognition it would be a disaster for international trade and commerce.”

Branquinho said that the European Travel Retail Council had prepared a draft letter that retailers could adapt to appeal to their governments over the issue. She urged retailers to talk to their governments and airports, and asked airports to appeal to Airports Council International (ACI) to put pressure on ICAO.

ICAO is to set up a study group on the issue of duty-free sales, and ACI said it was hopeful that it would have representation on the group. “The airport perspective is the duty-free perspective,” an ACI spokesman said.