Financial News

(1-Feb-2005) LEBANON. Middle East Airlines' onboard duty-free sales grew by 28% in 2004 compared with the previous year, with spend per passenger reaching $8

(1-Feb-2005) HONG KONG. Liquor and tobacco duty-free operator Sky Connection has achieved record sales for four consecutive months at Hong Kong International airport

(1-Feb-2005) UK. BAA has reported a rise in group operating profit of 9.6% to £548m ($1.03bn) in the nine months to December 31 2004, with net retail income up by 7.5% to £457m ($863.7m)

(1-Feb-2005) AUSTRALIA. Macquarie Airports (MAP) has announced strong results for Sydney airport for the six months to December 31 2004, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rising by 14.7% to A$169.4m ($130.3m)

(1-Feb-2005) The company warns of lower profits resulting from the effects of the Asian tsunami on its retail business and new business start-up costs in Australia and Holland

(31-Jan-2005) Enhanced computer systems and strong passenger growth have boosted retail results at the Bulgarian airport

(25-Jan-2005) The two companies, partners in the Sintres company which acquired 75% of Dufry last year, have agreed to split the remaining 25% of the Swiss retailer

(20-Jan-2005) The luxury goods group reaches Eu12.6bn ($16.4bn) in total sales and hails 'strong sales' for its duty-free retail division DFS Group

(20-Jan-2005) A new name makes public its interest in the Spanish retailer, reports suggest

(19-Jan-2005) As the GEA consortium's bid for the Spanish retailer is given the go-ahead by the Spanish stock exchange, Dufry Group owner Advent is mulling a bid of its own