RETAIL/F&B

Fraport USA has won the bidding to manage the retail concessions at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). The new contract between Fraport Baltimore Partnership LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary of Fraport USA, and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), which operates the airport, will run for 23 years. Dr Stefan Schulte, chairman of the executive board of […]

Diptyque, Sandqvist and Teenage engineering are just a few of the brands that will be on offer at the Marketplace in Stockholm Arlanda Airport’s Terminal 5 when retail-tech company Co-X launches the unique retail concept Depart.A.Mental in the first half of 2025. Depart.A.Mental is an innovative concept store that makes it easier for brands to […]

Changi Airport has unveiled what it believes is the boldest ever refresh of its signature retail campaign to give shoppers the winning chance for the ultimate luxury travel experience of a lifetime to their dream holiday destinations. The year-long ‘Changi Millionaire Experiences’ campaign will see winners of the quarterly draws pick from what it calls […]

Amsterdam Schiphol has announced that it will strengthen its successful partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail for the operation of more than 20 duty-free stores behind security control from May 2025. According to the Dutch hub, the strengthened partnership will take the form of a joint venture in which Lagardère Travel Retail has 70% of the […]

Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) in Texas has completed construction on a new full-service bar and connected elevated outdoor patio and observation deck, which is the first passenger-accessible outdoor space to be constructed in the airport’s 64-year history. Both are now open-to-the-public and located inside security within the concourse between gates 1 and 3 and […]

Indochine – an Asian restaurant concept – has opened at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. With a menu that features sushi, Pad Thai, dumplings and more in a stylish, modern atmosphere, Indochine will add to the diverse range of dining options at the Marketplace in Terminal 5. According to the airport, with flavours from the four corners […]

A popular Indian street food café is opening an outlet at Birmingham Airport (BHX) and targeting becoming a presence at all major UK airports by 2025. The new store will be located in the departures area at Birmingham Airport. “We truly believe Chaiiwala at Birmingham Airport is long overdue and cannot wait to serve passengers […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports and Delta Air Lines, is celebrating the local and minority businesses powering the latest dining and retail offerings at the new Terminal 3. They include local brands Alfred, Fat Sal’s, Homeboy, Native by Nyesha and Yakumi. According to LAX operator, Los Angeles World Airports […]

WH Smith North America (WHSNA) has partnered with local-favourite brand, Lee’s Donuts, to open a new location at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Lee’s Donuts is a mom-and-pop shop developed by founders Alan and Betty-Ann Lee in 1979. The original shop opened in Granville Island Public Market and has since expanded to several other locations around […]

Avolta has announced the renewal and extension of its duty-free contract with Australia’s Perth Airport to 2031. Using sustainable design principles, the contract includes nearly 3,000sqm of commercial space across four stores, and centres on the transformation of Avolta’s Terminal 1 Departures store into a state-of-the-art walkthrough space. Rather boldy, perhaps, Avolta and Perth Airport […]

Founded-in-Philly coffee phenomenon, La Colombe, has opened its fifth location at Philadelphia International Airport in the Pennsylvanian gateway’s Terminal F. La Colombe’s rise to success began in 1994, when the coffee empire was started by Todd Carmichael and Jean Philippe Iberti in Philly’s Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood. The once-local roastery has since expanded its brand and […]

Phoenix mayor, Kate Gallego, and members of the Phoenix City Council have heard about plans to build a new terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). With more than 48 million passengers in 2023 and passenger numbers continuing to grow, a new terminal is necessary to meet passenger demand and maintain a high level […]

India’s new Noida International Airport (DXN), which is expected to open at the end of the year, has awarded the concession for retail and duty-free to a consortium of Heinemann Asia Pacific and BWC Forwarders Private Limited. Airport CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, said: “As we continue to develop Noida International Airport into a world-class facility, this […]

With 24 weekly flights from China to Munich, travel between the two metropolises of Shanghai and Beijing and the Bavarian capital is back in full swing. As a result, Munich Airport has reintroduced its personal shopping assistant service for Chinese passengers in Terminal 2. Chinese-speaking shopping assistants aim to break down language barriers and make […]

Global travellers, particularly those from younger generations, are looking for much more than just utility and a bit of shopping when they visit the airport, according to new research. Findings from the latest round of the Airport Experience research, a comprehensive study of more than 9,000 travellers conducted by global airport lounge and experience specialists […]

SSP America, a division of SSP Group has been awarded a 10-year contract to lease, develop, and manage the Spokane International Airports restaurant and retail programme. As a result, it will oversee the operation of nearly six retail locations and be responsible for developing and operating 11 restaurant locations in the airport’s terminals and soon-to-open […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The New Terminal One (NTO) and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports have announced the launch of the commercial programme for the privately funded $9.5 billion all-international terminal scheduled to open in 2026 as part of the $19 billion transformation of New York-JFK. According to the trio, the […]

Finavia will further diversify Helsinki Airport’s restaurant offering with the opening of eight new F&B oulets in the spring. The new additions, which are part of the revamp of the airport, means that passengers will soon be served by nearly 50 restaurants and cafés. Nora Immonen, Finavia’s director of commercial services, business, at Helsinki Airport, […]

Dublin Airport is to overhaul the food and drink offerings in both its terminals, adding more than 20 new and improved bars, cafes and restaurants for passengers. The latest changes are the final piece in the jigsaw of a five-year journey to transform the food and beverage options available to passengers at Dublin Airport and […]

Ottawa International Airport (YOW) has opened a collection of new food and beverage outlets as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the passenger experience. The new additions include Bridgehead Coffee, La Bottega – Ottawa’s favourite Italian grocer and supplier of Italian foods – and Bento, the popular sushi outlet that began life as a […]

SSP America has opened a collection of restaurants and bars at Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW), with the majority located in a food court area called the Central Market. The collection is comprised primarily of local brands consistent with SSP America’s focus on bringing a ‘taste of place’ to the airports its serves. It has […]

Charlotte Ljunggren, director for marketing and commercial business development, tells us more about the opening of Stockholm Arlanda Airport’s new Marketplace development. Are you excited about the first phase opening of Stockholm Arlanda’s new Marketplace development? Absolutely, as it will transform the commercial space in Terminal 5 and is the second big development at the […]

The Golden Arches of McDonald’s Australia are ready to rise for the first time at Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal this summer. It’s one of 10 new food and beverage destinations opening in the coming months as part of the airport’s terminal redevelopment. Last year, 16 million passengers passed through the transport hub, which is the […]

Uptown Phoenix and InMotion are the latest retail outlets to open inside the brand-new S1 Concourse in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The WH Smith North America (WHSNA) operated stores were celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a cheque presentation to the company’s long-time charity partner, Miracle Flights, which […]

The creation of its first ‘Experience Space’ ensures that a new and truly unique experience is awaiting the travellers at Copenhagen Airport, according Gebr Heinemann. The travel retailer reveals that the new innovation centres around the overarching topic of ‘fluid perspectives’ and invites the visitors to enjoy cutting edge innovation with lift and learn technology, […]

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has awarded Fraport Washington Partnership LLC (Fraport USA) a ten-year contract to lease, develop and manage the concessions programme at Washington DC’s Dulles and Reagan National airports. Under the new contract with the MWAA, effective in January 2024, Fraport USA will be responsible for day-to-day management of the concessions programme […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) believes that it has elevated the guest experience with the opening of a host of new retail and F&B outlets at the West Gates in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. According to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and concessions partner, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the new dining options offer a mix of […]

Seven new specialty retail shops are now open for business at Nashville International Airport (BNA). According to operator Fraport Tennessee, the new arrivals reflect the airport’s record growth in domestic and international travel and boost the shopping appeal of the gateway. Tennessee originals such as the Goo Goo Shop, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, […]

Nashville’s popular all-natural juice bar and eatery, The Urban Juicer, has touched down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The company’s second store outside Music City opened September 8, 2023, and is located in the Terminal F Food Court. The store’s top seller, ‘The Well-Being’ smoothie, is a blend of cucumber, lemon, ginger, apple, spinach, kale, […]

China’s Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) has opened a new commercial street of international brands in T3A Terminal. The airport’s new ‘STARRY GALLERIA’ initiative is a result of the work of the Sino-Singapore Chongqing Airport Commercial Management Co Ltd – the joint venture set up by Singapore Changi subsidiary, Changi Airports International (CAI), and the […]

A host of new shops and restaurants will open at Stockholm Arlanda this autumn as the first stage of the Market Place is completed. One of the new additions is Gateau, a craft bakery with a French twist that will offer passengers a premium-quality classic Swedish fika, or coffee and pastry. Immediately adjacent to the […]

Passengers traveling through Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in the US will begin to see a transition in food and beverage offerings this month as part of the airport’s new concessions programme. SSP America was recently awarded a contract to operate a collection of post-security restaurants at Fresno Yosemite International Airport including Peet’s Coffee, Ike’s […]

SSP Group has been awarded a seven year contract extension at London City Airport, which will see the opening of brand-new concepts. The deal comes as part of a £12 million upgrade of the Departure Lounge which includes a revamp to the F&B offer with the aim of providing the modern traveller with unique, local […]

San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 will feature restaurants and shops that look, feel, and taste like San Diego, according to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board. The Board has approved the final group of New T1 concessions leases for restaurants and retail shops that offer a mix of local, regional, and […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) today announced a $125 million commercial redevelopment programme for Terminal 8 at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The project, carried out in partnership with American Airlines and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, will feature a new Great Hall and is expected to bring more than 60 […]

Hong Kong International Airport’s Sky Bridge has its own cocktail bar after today’s opening of ‘Intervals’ by the Plaza Premium Group. PPG boldly promises that the first-of-its-kind concept will offer “an unparalleled world-class cocktail and dining experience”. Indeed, it describes as Intervals as being a destination in its own right, offering “a creative concept that […]

Hamburg Airport has launched an international public tendering process for four food & beverage locations in two lots. Three of the locations are within the security-controlled area and one in the publicly accessible area. The airport stresses that it places “great value on a diverse food & beverage offering” and is seeking “a wide range […]

Heinemann Duty Free Malaysia has officially launched its redeveloped stores at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Terminal 2 (KLIA Terminal 2). As a result, it claims that passengers travelling through KLIA Terminal 2 departures can now look forward to a “refreshed and inviting store across all categories, further enhancing the overall airport experience”. The new store […]

Heinemann’s eye catching confectionery shop at Hong Kong International Airport has re-opened for business following an upturn in passenger numbers at the gateway. According to Heinemann Asia Pacific, its Sweet Dreams outlet, which debuted at the airport in July 2018, aims to “delight and inspire travellers both young and old, with interactive displays and playful, […]

Mayor, Matt Mahan, made a flying visit to San José Mineta International Airport this week for the official opening of Jim Stump’s Taproom + Kitchen in Terminal B. The new restaurant, located near Gates 23 & 24, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is open daily from from 6am to 9pm. It’s the latest project […]

Pocket Bar & Bistro has become the latest new F&B offering to open its doors at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Airport operator, Swedavia, notes that the new addition offers “fantastic views of the runway” and aircraft taking off and landing from its location, one level up in SkyCity. It promises to be a busy year for […]

OTG has expanded its operations at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) with the opening of four innovative new F&B concepts. Following its initial makeover of Concourse G – which introduced over 43,000 square feet of elevated dining and retail programmes and secured MSP’s 2013 distinction of ‘Best Food & Beverage Program in North America’ from […]

London Gatwick Airport will open two new restaurants and wine bars this spring – Vagabond Bar & Kitchen and South Downs Sparkling Wine Bar. The new outlets, the airport states, will showcase “a vast array of the best local wines, beers and produce from across the region, alongside global options”. Award-winning urban winery, Vagabond, will […]

Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, both WHSmith companies, have unveiled ten exciting new outlets inside the brand-new Single Terminal at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). The new terminal at MCI features MRG retailers in both concourses, with a wealth of new concepts designed just for Kansas City, Missouri. MRG says that it takes pride […]

Holland & Barrett, a leading UK wellness retailer, has partnered with WHSmith to offer a curated range of health, wellness and beauty products to customers travelling across the UK or jetting off on holiday. The trial will see Holland & Barrett concessions added to three WHSmith Travel stores in Heathrow Terminal 2 airside, Gatwick North […]

Ever Rich Duty Free has partnered with William Grant and Tasa Meng on a Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection promotion at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. To support the launch, the brand’s ground-breaking immersive Perpetual Collection pop-up concept has been installed in Terminal 2 and will be onsite until February 28. “This collection is Glenfiddich’s biggest launch in […]

According to Airport Dimensions, its newly commissioned research has pin-pointed how airports must adapt their retail and experience offerings to appeal to the modern traveller. The data reveals, unsurprisingly, that practical factors make a significant difference when it comes to improving travellers’ passenger experiences. A substantial 80% of those surveyed, for example, cited comfortable seating […]

Just in time for the Christmas holidays, Lagardère AWPL has opened its new Aelia Duty Free stores at Adelaide Airport in Australia. Designed and built in partnership with peckvonhartel, Trivision, Studio All and Bestec, the new stores double the size of duty free retail across arrivals and departures. Inside 800 square metres of Departures and […]

Sydney Airport’s new luxury precinct is now home to Louis Vuitton’s first retail travel store in the southern hemisphere, as well as Gentle Monster’s first store in the region. The brand’s largest stand-alone travel retail store in the world offers a broad selection of premium women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, leather goods, accessories, watches, jewellery […]

Fortnum & Mason, an upmarket department store from the UK, has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to open its first travel retail location in Asia in the East Hall luxury zone at Hong Kong International Airport. The 46 square metre store offers a wide assortment of the brand’s most in-demand teas, biscuit, chocolates, tea accessories, […]

Swedavia today announced that a number of new shops will open at Stockholm Arlanda Airport next summer when the first phase of its biggest ever commercial investment at the gateway is completed. Located in the planned new Marketplace development, the new retail outlets will include a number of well-known Swedish brands, and there will also […]

Belfast International Airport is trialling a robot service technology to enhance colleague and customer experience at the gateway. The trial – the first of its kind in conjunction with SSP UK – sees six service robots deployed later this month at the Sip & Stone Restaurant and Bar. Working with GW Robotics & Stephens Catering, […]

Passengers passing through Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) got a taste of two featured beers as part of a tap takeover celebrating National Black Business Month. Turner Häus Brewery had beer on tap at Tortas Frontera restaurant while Moor’s Brewery took over the tap at Hub51, both located in Terminal 5. Both restaurants, operated by Areas, sold […]

Sydney Airport is reinvigorating its luxury retail precinct with the arrival of the most sought-after fashion brands, affirming the airport’s position on the world stage of luxury. Showcased within a 2,700sqm streetscape, luxury brands including Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Bvlgari, Hermès, Loewe, Moncler, Prada, Rolex and Saint Laurent are now open at the airport’s T1 […]

Gebr Heinemann has won the concession to operate the the duty free and travel retail shops at Düsseldorf Airport from January 2023. The licence is for four shops across all three terminals A, B and C, with a total of around 4,000 square metres of shopping area. The product range will include liquor, tobacco, confectionery, […]

Travel retail operator, Gebr. Heinemann, enjoyed an upturn in revenues in 2021 despite ongoing travel restrictions in the wake of the global pandemic. In spite of the restrictions, especially in the first half of the year, and the continued absence of Asian travellers, the Hamburg-based operator says that it “achieved solid turnover and focused on […]

The Design Solution’s Robbie Gill considers some of the challenges facing Europe’s regional airports when it comes to enhancing their retail/F&B offerings. Despite the unprecedented and continuing pressures imposed on non-aviation revenues by the COVID crisis, a number of Europe’s regional airports are developing a stronger position to drive their revenue recovery path, particularly among […]

Passengers flying from London Stansted this summer will be able to enjoy a range of new bars, restaurants and retail outlets thanks to a major refurbishment of its departure lounge. More than £12 million is being invested by the airport and its retail partners to improve the customer experience as it prepares for the expected […]

Dublin Airport has a potential new haunt for St Patrick’s Day after celebrating the official opening of a new immersive Guinness Bar Experience in Terminal 1. The new Guinness Bar will offer passengers an immersive experience pre-flight where they can sample a range of beers and ciders including Guinness, Ireland’s favourite stout, and Guinness 0.0, […]

Aer Rianta International (ARI), a subsidiary of the state owned daa and the first company to operate duty-free shops in the world, has been chosen as the partner of choice by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA) to form a joint venture company to operate their portfolio of duty free and duty paid retail concessions in […]

The newly remodelled Adelholzener Bar in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport offers visitors an Alpine setting to enjoy their soft drinks, draft beers or Bavarian favourites such as veal sausages and meatloaf! The airport used the pandemic forced closure of the departures area bar to carry out extensive renovations, and according to the gateway, the […]

Heathrow’s latest F&B offering, a 1930s Shanghai inspired Chinese restaurant, Shan Shui, has opened for business in Terminal 2. The outlet, officially opened this week by renowned restaurateur Ellen Chew, will double as a private viewing gallery with panoramic views of the runway. According to the operator, at its heart, Shan Shui will be all […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has joined forces with Four Pillars to bring a pop-up gin shop to Terminal 1 at Melbourne Airport. Open now, the one-stop gin shop offers a selection of Four Pillars gins, including core and limited releases. A select range of ‘Made from Gin’ products is also available to purchase, including Breakfast Negroni, […]

Airport World reports on the opening of the world’s first digital duty free vending machine, the introduction of automated pizza kitchens at airports and the growth of food pick-up and delivery services. The duty free industry recently celebrated a new first at Geneva Airport – the launch of the world’s first digital duty free vending […]

A rare bottle of whisky on offer at a duty free store in Istanbul Airport has been sold for an incredible €488,000. Described as an extremely limited Yamazaki 55 year old whisky, it had been on sale at one of Unifree Duty Free’s outlets at the airport since December 2021. Due to the exceptionally limited […]

Travelex has launched a full range of foreign exchange bureaux and ATM services at London Stansted Airport, the UK’s fourth largest airport. The launch of services at London Stansted, which handled more than 28 million passengers in 2019, means Travelex now operates at all three Manchester Airports Group (MAG) airports having recently re-won and started […]

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar has appointed Maritime and Mercantile International (MMI) and Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR) as the master concessionaire for all F&B, duty free and commercial outlets in its newly-built Terminal 3. MMI and ELR note that they are joining forces to “create and deliver a world-class, next-generation customer experience at […]

Dublin Airport has a new airside F&B outlet following the opening of the Nomad Café in Terminal 1. Nomad is said to be a “flexitarian café” that focuses on offering healthy, clean and wholesome food. Nomad executive chef, Jack O’Keeffe, said: “We have created an exciting menu where every layer and ingredient are consciously chosen […]

Airport retail design specialist The Design Solution (TDS) has helped develop Kypriaka, a vibrant new destination store at Larnaca Airport, in partnership with Aer Rianta (ARI) and airport operator Hermes. Hermes and retailer ARI appointed TDS to develop the terminal’s commercial planning and passenger flow strategies and also design the locally-themed new centrepiece of the […]

Judging by the queues at the new Qatar Duty Free (QDF) Apple Shop at Hamad International Airport, the outlet is going to be a firm favourite with visitors. Located at the heart of the airport terminal, QDF notes that it offers the full Apple product range, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, […]

The duty free industry is celebrating a new first today – the launch of the world’s first digital duty free vending machine at Geneva Airport. Lagardère Travel Retail Switzerland has partnered with Inflyter to introduce the new, innovative automated retail solution, which offers travellers a fully digital duty free shopping experience for arriving passengers. And […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has become the latest gateway to embrace an on-site food delivery and retail service with the launch of DXB&More. From today, all hungry passengers have to do is reach for their mobile to order food and drinks from DXB’s F&B outlets and have it delivered directly to them. And the ability […]

Dufry has extended its duty-free concession at Cambodia’s three international airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville or five and a half years. The airports handled a total of 11.6 million international travellers in 2019, although these kind of figures are not expected to return for a while as COVID continues to restrict global […]

Lagardère Travel Retail partnership has opened its first Natoo hybrid store, which serves as a restaurant and health food shop, at Frankfurt Airport. The outlet, located in Terminal 1A (airside) at the German gateway, has opened in partnership with airport operator, Fraport, and will followed by second store next month. Natoo’s tagline is ‘Healthy all […]

It’s not quite as miraculous as turning water into wine, but Munich Airport’s Airbräu brewery has successfully turned beer into a gin-style spirit to avoid 4,000 litres of leftover beer going to waste. Like many bars, pubs and hospitality venues across the globe, food and drink sales at Munich’s popular Airbräu restaurant have been adversely […]

The F&B offering in London’s Gatwick’s North Terminal were boosted this morning by the opening of two new outlets, Tortilla, and Juniper and Co. Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, already has 51 outlets across the UK, but the latest offering at Gatwick will be its first venture into airports. Passengers will be […]

Hungry passengers can now use their smart phones or digital devices to order their favourite food for pick-up or delivery at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The service, available via Fraport USA’s new GateWaiter Mobile Meal Delivery Service app, offers food selections from a variety of the airport’s eateries, including hometown greats Bar Symon, Inca Tea […]

San Antonio based fast food operator, Whataburger, will join the list of F&B providers at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) when it opens an outlet at the Texas gateway early next year. Opened by F&B concessionaire, Paradies Lagardère, Whataburger’s outlet will be located in Terminal A’s foodcourt and will feature a custom art wall to […]

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has announced that four new leasing opportunities are up for grabs in Chicago O’Hare’s newly modernised and expanded Terminal 5. The Terminal 5 leasing opportunity is open to all businesses, and URW has evolved its Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) to encourage small, local business and ACDBE participation. In addition, to better serve customers, URW […]

Marshall Retail Group has unveiled its newest airport retail concept, Capitol File News, and a newly-added InMotion location are now open inside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The newest openings inside DCA mark the retail group’s largest collection of stores as a family of brands under the WH Smith umbrella. According to the Marshall […]

Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport will soon have a new duty free partner in Lagardère Travel Retail after the two signed off on a pioneering profit-share agreement in Paris yesterday. Global airport operator, Fraport, is responsible for operating and developing the Peruvian gateway through subsidiary, Lima Airport Partners (LAP). Both LAP and Lagardère Travel Retail […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has completed the renovation of the luxury fashion & accessories offer in the domestic terminal of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. It is confident that the upgrade, which includes the opening of 18 boutiques showcasing many of the world’s most coveted luxury brands in China, will “elevate the travel retail experience at one […]

Changing consumption patterns due to the global pandemic is causing the emergence of new mega trends in travel retail, according to the latest consumer research from m1nd-set. The research introduces a range of new consumer trends that are affecting shopper behaviour and highlights, several of which will be specific to the travel retail sector. And, […]

Travel retail operator, Gebr Heinemann, has revealed that it is gearing up for aviation’s recovery and is in a good place to resume where it left off before the global pandemic, despite a 67% drop in revenues in 2020. “We firmly believe in the travel market and are setting our organisation up for the restart, […]

The retail mix at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Mrshall Airport (BWI) has been enhanced with the opening of two new outlets operated by the Marshall Retail Group (MRG). MRG, a WHSmith company, believes that the new additions – District Market and America! – in Concourse D will appeal to passengers as both provide a little slice […]

Uber Eats is now available from a variety of HMSHost-operated restaurants across Terminals 1 and 3 at Toronto Pearson International Airport. According to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), the “innovative partnership” offers convenience and contactless ordering for consumers, while also providing additional revenue for on-site restaurants. It is also believed to make Pearson the […]

In the UK, a cross-party group of over sixty MPs and Peers have written to the Chancellor calling for the introduction of Arrivals duty free shops at British airports, international rail and ferry terminals. They claim the move would have a hugely positive economic impact for airports and duty free operators in the UK. To […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has been awarded the concession to operate 20 F&B outlets at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in partnership with Chilean company Global Group Corporation (GGCorp). It will be Lagardère Travel Retail’s first foray into South America and Chile, a market it says offers “remarkable growth prospects” for its future regional development. […]

LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) has announced the elimination of single-use plastic straws in the F&B outlets at New York LaGuardia’s Terminal B. LGP is the manager and developer of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, and this move comes as part of its commitment to creating a terminal that combines the best of what New York […]

Mexican airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP), is to invest more than $500 million on upgrading Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport. The plan includes an additional runway and new terminal building as well as, in the short/mid-term, a radical new $302 million redesign of the commercial space in the existing building. The […]

Lagardère Travel Retail is set to expand its footprint in Africa after being awarded the concession to operate two duty free stores in the new terminal at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport. It and local partner, Bevco Limited, will build and operate the outlets in the brand new Terminal 3 at the gateway to capital […]

Europe gained a new airport at the weekend when Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) finally opened for business. The new €6 billion airport is expected to take travelling to Berlin to another level, albeit it nine-and-a-half years later than originally planned. Its opening will mean the closure of Berlin Tegel, which is scheduled to […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has opened eight Luxury Beauty & Fashion stores in China’s Shanghai Hongqiao and Shenzhen Bao’an airports. In Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Terminal T2, Lagardère Travel Retail has opened six stores: Chanel Beauty and Accessories; Parfums Christian Diorl Givenchy; Shiseido; Gucci Watches & Jewelry;  and Sandro. In Shenzhen Bao’an, Terminal T3, Lagardère Travel Retail […]

Philadelphia International Airport has become the first US gateway to offer a new product collaboration between two leading in-airport contactless food services, Grab and AtYourGate. According to the airport, the Grab Airport app with delivery powered by AtYourGate aims to ease the airport concessions experience for travellers by offering contactless meal ordering and delivery capabilities […]

Marshall Retail Group (MRG), a WHSmith Group company, has opened its newest airport store in Terminal at New York LaGuardia (LGA). Called the DEAN inside LaGuardia Airport (LGA), the 5,000-square-foot retail space is said to be specifically designed to “the needs of the modern LGA passenger”. According to MRG, it offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, […]

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has opened a new $5.6 million Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) to improve the security screening – and enhance the health and safety – of all goods entering the airport. Operated by Bradford Airport Logistics, the new 22,000sqft facility will receive goods for delivery to the existing airport […]

According to a new consumer insights report, there are positive signals for the industry regarding global travellers’ planned shopping trends, but significant behavioural changes across all shopper segments are to be expected. The report, published by industry research agency m1nd-set, is the latest in a series of studies focusing on how travellers from all world […]

Duty free operator Gebr Heinemann has announced that chief commercial officer, Kay Spanger, is retiring after more than 40 years with the Hamburg-based company. Spanger, who will work as an advisor to the company from September until the end of the year, is to be replaced on the Executive Board of Gebr Heinemann by Dr […]

DepARTures, an all-new, art-immersed store has opened for business at San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Purpose built for SFO, DepARTures is said to replicate the character and mood of the local art community by “blending artisan merchandise sourced from San Francisco neighbourhoods with newsstand necessities and new technology to celebrate the modern […]

Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific has begun to re-open some of its stores across the region, starting with a handful of outlets in the domestic terminals at Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Perth and Melbourne this week. According to the travel retailer, the small selection of stores will be used as test cases with restricted trading hours, with […]

Melvin Broekaart ponders whether it is time for airports to reconsider their retail business models to successfully compete with online shopping and remain exciting and relevant for decades to come. Whether we like it or not, there is an impactful and irreversible change of reality taking shape in travel retail. The new reality seems to […]

According to a survey by Swiss research agency, M1nd-set, over 60% of international travellers will fly again within the first three months of COVID-19 travel restrictions being lifted. The report, based on feedback from 1,500 consumers in the first half of April, aims to find out how passengers have been affected by COVID-19 and when […]

Beijing Capital International Airport has appointed a UK based airport design consultancy to help it redevelop the commercial planning and design of the international departure lounge in Terminal 3. The world’s biggest terminal building when it opened in 2008, Terminal 3 – known locally as the Dragon terminal –  has arguably been an iconic symbol of […]

Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in China has begun handling commercial flights again and Lagardère Travel Retail has responded by re-opening its stores at the gateway, ending a 76-day lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel retailer notes that “stringent hygiene and security measures remain in place to protect staff and travellers”. For the first […]

Dubai’s new food court of the future, Australia’s first working brewery inside an airport and Irish food and drink taking centre stage at Dublin Airport are on the menu in our global retail/F&B round-up. HMSHost International claims to have opened the food court of the future with the unveiling of its 170sqm Food Village at […]

Alex Avery, Pragma’s managing director for airports, travel and commercial spaces, discusses how food and beverage is transforming airport retail. Whilst the challenges of delivering growth in retail are well documented, F&B continues to be the star performer for many airports. Pragma has seen annual growth in spend per passenger of up to 15% in […]

Interbrand strategy consultant, Jan Glanzmann, considers the value and transformative power of a strong brand, which he believes have grown from nice-to-have to must have assets. I am often asked what I consider to be a company’s biggest single asset, and in many cases, it is the brand. The brand value of one of the world’s […]

Embracing the latest trends and seizing the opportunities created by a constantly evolving retail market will allow airports to sustain and grow non-aeronautical revenues, writes Chris LeTourneur. Airport retailing has always been a critical element of the passenger experience, not only to serve basic convenience and dining needs but to generate non-aeronautical revenues. For international […]

New concessions, store openings and the power of sense of place retail come under the microscope in our round-up of the latest retail/F&B stories from across the globe. Grand Ole contract for Fraport USA! Wholly-owned Fraport subsidiary, Fraport USA, has taken over the management of the retail and F&B operations at Nashville International Airport (BNA). […]

AOE’s Kian Gould provides his thoughts on how the key players can thrive in a changing travel retail world. Travel retail today is a vastly different industry than it was five years ago, let alone ten or twenty. Changing demographics; the ubiquity of low-cost carriers; declining per passenger spend, despite steadily increasing passenger numbers; changed […]