U.S. passenger airline traffic fell 60.1% in 2020 to the lowest number since 1984 as the COVID-19 pandemic devastated demand for air travel, the U.S. Transportation Department. Total passenger traffic reached 368 million in 2020, down from 922.6 million in 2019. The previous yearly low was 351.6 million in 1984, according to the DOT’s Bureau […]
United States
Hawaii reopens to tourism using new pre-travel testing protocols
Tourism dependent Hawaii reopened to trans-pacific visitors on October 15, allowing travelers who pre-test for COVID-19 to bypass the mandatory 14-day quarantine that has been in effect since March 26. The pre-travel testing for trans-pacific travel program states that those who do not want to be subject to the state’s 14-day mandatory travelers quarantine must take […]
The eerie stillness of empty airports: A Photo Essay
The figures cited in the article on this page are staggering and nearly incomprehensible. Air passenger traffic at these three major U.S. airports are reported to be down between 90 and 95% from the same period last year – and they are not alone. For an idea of what this looks like in reality, TMI […]
Hudson Group reports record 2019 revenues but warns of COVID-19 impact in ‘20
In a year highlighted by major agreements with food and beverage concessions operator OHM Concession Group and Brookstone stores in U.S. airports, North American travel retailer Hudson Group turned in record full year revenues of $1.95 billion, a 1.5% year-over-year increase, in 2019. Despite the strong showing in 2019, Hudson Group CEO Roger Fordyce voiced […]
Nearly 2 million airline seats affected by new Europe to U.S. travel ban, says OAG
Travel data provider OAG estimates that the Europe to United States travel ban announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday night, not surprisingly, will have far-reaching implications for the global aviation industry. OAG says that the ban will affect 10.9% of all international flights and 16.9% of all scheduled international seats between the United […]
Estée Lauder Travel Retail opens new consumer-driven retail concept at Dallas Fort Worth, Terminal D
The Estée Lauder Companies, in partnership with 3Sixty Retail, opened an innovative retail concept last week in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport – Terminal D Departures near gate 25. The new concept features offerings by four of its brands that are particularly popular with Millennial and Gen Z consumers, BECCA, Too Faced, Bobbi Brown, and Glam […]
JFK T4 & Hudson celebrate holiday season with pop-up kiosk
JFKIAT, the operator of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, is partnering with Hudson on a one-of-a-kind holiday shopping experience in the terminal’s Retail Lounge. Inspired by New York City’s iconic Bryant Park Holiday Village, the “Holidays by Hudson” kiosk is unique to T4 and brings together a curated and locally sourced selection […]
Dan Cappell joins California’s Ontario International Airport as CCO
California-based Ontario International Airport Authority has named international aviation consultant Dan Cappell – a highly respected and familiar figure in the travel retail industry, as chief commercial officer, effective Dec. 9. A UK-native, Cappell began his career nearly 30 years ago with Nestle International Travel Retail, and subsequently moved to Abu Dhabi Airports Company, as […]
Plaza Premium Group invests US$55 Million to open 15 new locations – Debuts in North America with openings in DFW, DEN and Toronto
Hong Kong-based airport hospitality services pioneer Plaza Premium Group is expanding its global footprint and enhancing products across 11 international airports –including in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport in the U.S. and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada. Other new or enhanced locations cover Beijing Daxing International Airport; Dubai International Airport; […]
InnoTRI to distribute Distell GTR brands in USA and parts of Caribbean, effective Jan. 1, 2020
Distell Global Travel Retail has announced a new distribution deal with Miami-based InnoTRI Limited (Innovation Travel Retail International) to support Distell’s development in the Americas region. InnoTRI will be Distell Global Travel Retail’s exclusive distributor for the USA travel retail channel and parts of the Caribbean beginning January 1, 2020. The main focus of the […]
Gold Bar Whiskey named “The Official Whiskey of the San Francisco 49ers”
In a major new initiative, Gold Bar Whiskey has been named the official whiskey of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The multi-year agreement began with the 2019 season and the opening of the new Gold Bar Whiskey Bar on the main concourse of Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco-based Gold Bar Whiskey has also created the official […]
Stellar Partners brings fashion touch to shopping at Philadelphia Int’l Airport
Philadelphia Airport also refreshed its retail offerings this week, with the opening of four fashion retail brands from Stellar Partners with MarketPlace Development: Chico’s, White House Black Market, and Soma together in one place; plus trending activewear brand, Marika. A Stellar Books shop was also opened. The multi-brand concept store Chico’s, White House Black Market, and Soma is a […]
Delta’s first new concourse at LGA opens; a milestone in $8B airport rebuild
Terminal features dining from OTG and new retail from Stellar Partners Delta unveiled its first new concourse at LaGuardia International Airport on Tuesday. The 105,000-square-foot showpiece in what will become Delta’s Terminal C, features modern customer amenities, state-of-the-art architecture, more spacious gate areas and a connected terminal system. The opening of the first new concourse […]
Hudson Group enters into agreement to acquire 34 Brookstone U.S. airport locations
Travel retailer Hudson Group has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Brookstone stores in U.S. airports from Apex Digital, Inc. Hudson has also obtained the right to be the exclusive airport retailer to operate Brookstone stores through a license agreement with Bluestar Alliance, LLC, owner of the Brookstone brand and trademarks. The agreement […]
New era for International Shoppes as it opens duty free concession in Houston
Family-run duty free operator International Shoppes has ventured outside its northeast United States home for the first time with six stores in three terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. IS Vice Presidents Scott Halpern and Matt Greenbaum confirm to TMI that IS opened its first store in the airport this morning […]
