WH Smith plans airport expansion for Books.co

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Leading UK bookseller and travel retailer WH Smith is considering rolling out its Books.co concept into airports after a successful trial at Leeds railway station which began last December. WH Smith Books.co is a new style of bookstore featuring a bank of computer terminals that enables online shoppers to order books straight from the company's Internet site. The Leeds 55sq m (592sq ft) Books.co store stocks 3,000 titles direct but gives customers access to a total of 1.4m via four Internet terminals.

The shops are designed for travellers and will be opened at the group's existing rail station and airport outlets. As well as stocking a full range of books and magazines, travellers are given free access to computers for ordering products, checking emails and travel information. WH Smith views the travel retail expansion as a important foothold in the online books market. WH Smith Online launched last May and like other booksellers faces stiff competition from leading online retailer Amazon.com which has annual sales of over $1.4bn.

A WH Smith Travel Retail spokeswoman told TRW the shops could work well at airports. She said: "We are in talks with our airport partners and hope to progress soon."

• WH Smith Europe Travel Retail division operates 180 station and airport outlets in the UK as well as Paris and Alicante airports. WH Smith also has several outlets in Asia at Singapore Changi airport (four stores), Sydney (four) and Hong Kong (six) plus over 500 news stands and gifts stores in US airports and hotels. WH Smith has annual on-airport sales estimated at over $500m.