Transit issue creating “crisis of confidence” warn suppliers

Joe Bates

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Liquor suppliers are deeply worried that the transit security crisis will irreparably damage customers’ faith in the duty-free industry

Leading duty-free liquor suppliers and distributors are increasingly concerned that the airport security crisis affecting sales of liquids, aerosols and gels to transfer passengers is creating a “crisis of confidence” among customers.

Since November 6 last year passengers transiting through EU airports on flights originating from non-EU countries have risked having any liquids over 100ml in their hand luggage confiscated. The situation is set to get worse next month as many other countries heed the recommendation of world airport governing body the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to adopt the same stringent rules for their airports by March 1 2007.

"Two months after the introduction of the new airport security regime, we have evidence that the restrictions on the carriage of liquids and gels are creating a crisis of confidence among customers," said Rémy Cointreau international director global travel-retail François van Aal.

"Amsterdam Schiphol is one airport that has been honest enough to admit that the new rules mean that it is confiscating about 1,000 bottles from passengers per day. Arguably, that means that 7,000 passengers a week, or 364,000 passengers a year, will theoretically be put off from buying liquid/gel-based duty-free or travel-retail goods in the future."

“People think I am exaggerating, but I believe this issue has the potential to be more harmful than the abolition of intra-EU duty-free,” said Maxxium Global Travel Retail president Erik Juul-Mortensen.

“We need to find a better way to educate the traveller buying liquids and make sure that as a group we don't try to capitalise on a one-off sale that could result in a lost customer for life,” said Haleybrooke International president Patrick Nilson.