Grupo Aeromexico SAB, Mexico’s second-largest airline, filed for bankruptcy in the U.S., the fourth Latin American carrier to seek the Court’s protection after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe downturn in travel, reports Bloomberg. In a message on the Aeromexico website, CEO Andrés Conesa said: “We have initiated a voluntary procedure to implement a financial restructuring […]
Latin America
OAG: Shake up in South America aviation
In its June 25th coronavirus update report by Becca Rowland, OAG Aviation World-wide points out that while aviation is “reeling” around the world, South America’s carriers are not receiving the significant government support that North America and Europe have seen for airlines. This will be an important factor in how the industry on these continents will emerge from the […]
Experts at ASUTIL webinar predict no recovery until 2021 in Latin America; could take years to reach pre-COVID levels
By John Gallagher Two economists speaking at an ASUTIL-hosted webinar last week predict that Latin America is unlikely to see any recovery from the current crisis before 2021, and that it could take the region’s two major powers longer than that to even reach pre-COVID levels. Economists Tatiana Pinheiro from BNP – Paribas from […]
ASUTIL takes to the press in appeal for government assistance to save regional travel retail industry
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL turned to one of Uruguay’s leading newspapers, El País, to add weight to its plea to local governments for assistance during the COVID-19 crisis, with requests to use e-commerce to sell to a domestic consumer and to Brazilians. ASUTIL Secretary General Jose Luis Donagaray, speaking with media during a virtual news […]
Sky Duty Free opens first store in Foz de Iguaçu
Despite COVID-19 restrictions in place, Sky Duty Free officially opened the first duty free shop in the Brazilian border town of Foz de Iguaçu this Monday, with an impressive welcome. The 550sqm store debuted on May 4 with municipal and regional authorities in attendance along with the company’s senior management. The Brazilian government approved the […]
ASUTIL briefing features relief efforts and importance of positivity
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL reiterated four measures it is focusing on in its joint petition with Airports Council International Latin America (ACI LAC), which calls on regional governments for aid as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The Association held an online briefing earlier this week attended by media, the ASUTIL Board and […]
ASUTIL preparing for “the day after”
South American Duty Free Association ASUTIL continues to work diligently with its members and other industry partners looking for ways to ease the financial burden on retailers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that is decimating travel and travel retail. “People are afraid to travel. The world has stopped. The industry has stopped,” said […]
Regency Group opens new Colon 2000 cruise port stores
The Colon 2000 cruise port in Panama now has a new duty free operation in effect. Regency Group, a privately owned multinational company with headquarters in Panama, which won the concession to develop some 4,500 square meters of premium travel retail space within the terminal in 2018, held a soft opening of its new Colon […]
Seiko now available in select Attenza Duty Free stores
Panama-based Duty Free Dynamics (DFD) continues to make progress with its innovative Master Franchisor concept. Most recently the company has launched Seiko watches in high profile presentations in the Attenza duty free stores in Colombia and Ecuador. The introduction of the brand at Attenza Duty Free featured the launch of Seiko’s iconic collection: New Seiko 5 […]
New LEGO Shop in Shop opened in Panama’s Colon 2000 cruise port, Terminal II
Duty Free Dynamics has opened its first Certified LEGO Shop-in-Shop (SIS). The SIS is located in the recently expanded and renovated Duty Free Shop in Colon 2000 Cruise Port, Terminal II. Colon 2000’s new Terminal II will primarily operate as a Home Port, housing cruise ships that provide passengers from Latin America with the opportunity […]
Melancia Mall faces bankruptcy threats
According to Uruguayan press reports, insolvency proceedings have begun at Melancia Shopping Mall as creditors look to recover outstanding debts. A court appointed liquidator is now managing the retail complex to assess the long-term viability of the US$60 million retail complex situated on the outskirts of the Uruguay border town of Rivera. The complex, which […]
Top Brands’ Luryx Duty Free wins exclusive contract at Asuncion’s Silvio Pettirossi airport
Luryx Duty Free, owned by Top Brands International, has won the new duty free tender at Paraguay’s Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion. Under the new structure, the duty free will be run exclusively by one operator. In the past, three different operators were competing against each other: Mannah Duty Free, Golden Duty Free and […]
Duty Free Dynamics launches Timex watches with Attenza
Panama-based Duty Free Dynamics announces that it has launched its Timex watches with Motta Internacional’s Attenza Duty Free stores. Working under its concept of master franchisor for the travel retail channel in the Americas, DFD has positioned the renowned watch brand in Attenza stores in four out of six of the countries where Attenza operates: […]
London Supply raises $700K+ at charity Golf Tournament
Argentine travel retailer London Supply has raised more than three-quarters of a million dollars from the 16th edition of its annual golf tournament, held at the beginning of January in the Uruguayan resort town of Punta del Este. On top of the US$781,479 originally raised, an additional $400 was donated at the prize giving as […]
Sky Duty Free – first new store in the area–to open in Foz de Iguaçu on Argentine-Brazil border
The first border duty free shop in the Brazilian state of Paraná –under the name of Sky Duty Free– is due to open within a matter of weeks. So far, following the approval of legislation in Brazil permitting duty free stores in 33 cities, the only store openings have been in the state of Rio […]
