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This week it is all about the numbers, and many North American airports are reporting record air traffic in 2018!
In our lead story, the Caribbean Tourism Organization is projecting a surprisingly robust 6-7% growth in Caribbean arrivals in 2019. The strong forecast comes on the heels of a significant recovery in the last four months of the year after the previous eight months of decline. Page 1.
Vancouver International Airport had another year of record-breaking traffic; it surpassed the 25 million passenger milestone two years ahead of forecast. Page 1.
Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta airports are again battling it out for the title of busiest airport in the U.S.-with Chicago touting its aircraft movements and ATL flaunting its passenger volume. ATL is still the only airport in the world to surpass 100 million travelers in a year. Page 2.
Dallas Fort Worth has been recognized as the Global Airport of the Year for 2019 by Air Transport World as the airport continues to expand on every front. Page 2.
More records from coast to coast as both the New York area airports and LAX set new records. Page 2.
Canadian Duty Free sales: Airport sales up by 6% in 2018, while land border sales remain flat. Page 2.
NEWS UPDATE:
Abdul Waked has launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the National Bank of Panama for losses due to actions the Bank took after the Waked businesses were listed on the U.S. Clinton list. Mr. Waked has been unsuccessful in petitioning the U.S. courts to remove him from the list since 2016. But if the lawsuit goes forward, it could bankrupt the National Bank. Page 1.
MORE AVIATION NEWS
British Airways has announced that it will move to JFK Terminal 8 in 2022. Page 3.
MIA launches facial recognition departures. Page 4.
TRAVEL RETAIL
Hudson Group opens Empire State Building Official Store in NYC. Page 3.
Three companies with high TR business named to prestigious Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index – The Estée Lauder Companies, L’Oréal and Unilever. Page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE NEWS
Ray-Ban wins with Scuderia Ferrari collection Formula 1 Tour in airports. Page 4.
Denizen jewelry launches in the Turk & Caicos Islands. Page 4.
BUSINESS WITH A SOCIAL TWIST
HMSHost helps airport travelers share love and joy with “1,000 Acts of Kindness.” Page 5
Absolut Drop turns actions of hate into Symbols of Love. Page 5
WanderSafe & The Beacon – Travel Retail’s first safety device – takes flight. Page 5.
