 |
Duty free gate delivery comes to Changi Airport via today’s Travel Advisory |
INTERNATIONAL. The impact on the global travel retail industry of the UK terrorist alert continues to evolve with almost bewildering pace. Here we report on two important new developments – the introduction of gate delivery at Changi Airport on certain flights, and a vital set of arguments being marshalled pro-actively by Airports Council International.
SINGAPORE
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has just issued an important new travel advisory for passengers using Singapore Changi Airport.
Importantly, the CAAS has just introduced a form of duty free gate delivery for the flights most affected by the crisis. It becomes the second major airport to introduce such a scheme in the past 24 hours – Buenos Aires Ezeiza was the other, click here for that story – perhaps a sign of what is to come on a wider scale within the industry.
Changi retailers have been hard hit by the crisis. Industry sources indicated that US and UK travellers make up nearly 15% of all passengers at Changi.
Sales of perfume and cosmetics for UK and US flights fell -50% over the weekend, compared to an average of two previous weekends, Nuance-Watson (Singapore) Executive General Manager Ken Tse told The Moodie Report.
In the advisory just issued, the CAAS says: “All passengers can continue to enjoy purchasing liquor and perfume at Changi Airport as usual except the following:
(a) To allow passengers departing from Changi Airport, on flights affected by restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosols in hand-carry luggage, to continue to purchase liquor and perfume, we have made special arrangements with the shops and airlines to facilitate these purchases without compromising on the security requirements set out by the other airports.
Special arrangements have been made for liquor and perfume purchases to be brought directly to the gatehold rooms for passengers travelling on the following flights:
(i) Singapore Airlines direct flights to the US (SQ20 to Los Angeles and SQ22 to Newark)
(ii) United Airlines flights to Hong Kong and Narita (UA896 and UA 838)
(iii) Northwest Airlines flights to Narita (NW 6) [with effect from 18 August 2006]
“Special arrangements have been made for liquor and perfume purchases to be brought directly to the gatehold rooms for passengers “ |
CAAS |
To take advantage of the above special arrangement, passengers must make their purchases at the shops at least one hour before their flight departure time. Passengers may collect their purchases immediately after clearing the security screening checks at the gatehold rooms.
(b) Passengers travelling to the UK or India to connect to another flight
(c) Passengers travelling to the US or Canada via a stop-over point
Hand-carry luggage
Hand-carry luggage can be carried on board all flights departing from Changi Airport, including flights to the UK and the US. There is no restriction on the carriage of liquids, gels and aerosols in hand-carry luggage for all other flights departing from Changi Airport.
EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS |
 |
How has the travel retail industry reacted to the crisis? How bad was the situation? Is this a defining moment in the trade’s history? Have your say – attributed or anonymous – on The Moodie Report Forum. Comment |
However, passengers should take note of the following restrictions imposed at other airports:
(a) Passengers travelling on US carriers (namely United Airlines and Northwest Airlines) must not carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their hand-carry luggage.
(b) Passengers travelling on any airline to the US and Canada (either directly or via a stop-over in another country) must not carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their hand-carry luggage.
(c) Passengers travelling to the UK and India to connect to another flight should note that there are restrictions on the size of hand-carry luggage (for the UK only) and the carriage of liquids, gels and aerosols (for UK and India) in hand-carry luggage when departing from airports in the UK and India.
INTERNATIONAL – ACI ADDRESSES THREATS TO AVIATION SECURITY
In a letter to members yesterday, Airports Council International (ACI) Director General Robert J Aaronson said the association is “closely following and participating in” developments related to the expanded aviation security measures introduced last week on an emergency basis.
He continued: “Recognising the global nature of the air transport system, part of our focus now is on considerations and possible actions by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ”
On Thursday afternoon the ICAO Council will take up the matter in closed session and receive specially-invited presentations by ACI and IATA.
“It should not be necessary to maintain the temporary ban imposed by some States on carrying these duty free spirits and cosmetic items on board aircraft“ |
Robert J Aaronson, Director General, Airports Council International |
Aaronson said that ACI’s message will comprise three main parts [the bold emphasis is ours – Ed]:
1. Threats to aviation security must be fully and effectively met. The public must have confidence that it is safe to travel and to fly. Governments must recognise that terrorism targets States and is therefore a matter of national defence which must be met primarily by them, in partnership with the providers of air transport.
2. Certain additional security measures may be required for the medium term, at least in some nations. These measures must be effective, enforceable, practical and sustainable. A secondary objective must be that any new longer-term measures are introduced in such a way that the industry can continue to handle growing numbers of passengers and higher freight volumes without creating gridlock at our major airports.
 |
Robert J Aaronson, Director General, Airports Council International: “The economic consequences of measures proposed must be understood by those making decisions.” |
3. The economic consequences of measures proposed must be understood by those making decisions. Airports derive a significant portion of the revenues needed for operations and development from retail concessions, many of which are located after security checkpoints and already are operated under tight controls. It should not be necessary to maintain the temporary ban imposed by some States on carrying these duty free spirits and cosmetic items on board aircraft; ICAO, the governments and industry can find ways to ensure that such items do not represent any danger.
Aaronson said ACI will be consulting on an ongoing basis with ACI’s Security Standing Committee, the Governing Board and the World Business Partners engaged in retail sales. “Our efforts will seek to harmonise recommendations and positions with IATA, regional airline associations and other key industry representatives.”
THE MOODIE REPORT COMMENT: These are vital days and the two industry initiatives quoted above are commendable examples of pro-active action. The CAAS has moved quickly to defend its revenues and those of its retailers while maintaining a popular customer service. And it is doing it with clarity and constantly-updated communication. Other airports could learn much from this.
ACI is also moving swiftly. Anything that ICAO – as the ultimate regulator of world airport-related travel – decides is binding. No airport or airline or retailer can fall short in any way of any standards imposed. It is encouraging (and vital) to see ACI placing such emphasis on not only the retail sector’s well-documented level of self-regulation and compliancy but also the commercial imperative of maintaining non-aeronautical revenue streams.
MORE STORIES ON THE TERROR CRISIS AND ITS IMPACT ON DUTY FREE
Crisis update: Interbaires forced to introduce gate delivery for duty free on US flights – 14/08/06
Crisis update: Breakthrough as UK terror alert downgraded – 13/08/06
Duty free industry woes intensify amid terror alert; Dominican Republic stops sales; BA withdraws service; InterBaires hit – 11/08/06
Canada and US react to UK terrorist drama with duty free limits on flights – 10/08/06
UK duty free and airports in turmoil as “˜plot to bomb planes’ foiled – 10/08/06
