International Shoppes hails launch of JAL’s Boston-Tokyo flights

International Shoppes’ senior management Matt Greenbaum, Michael Halpern and Scott Halpern celebrate Japan Airlines’ inaugural Boston flight, which is set to boost the duty free business


US. Boston Logan Airport’s new duty free concessionaire International Shoppes has hailed the launch of the inaugural Boston-Tokyo flight from Japan Airlines (JAL). The retailer said the move “will result in tremendous growth for duty free at Boston Logan”.

The 22 April launch was accompanied by a ribbon-cutting, gift bag giveaways by the retailer, and the launch of a number of special promotions. It was attended by executives from JAL, American Airlines (as part of a code share), airport operator Massport, master commercial developer Airmall, as well as the Japanese Consul General in Boston, Takeshi Hikihara.

International Shoppes will distribute gift bags to customers for the first month of the flight’s service. The gift bag includes items from Godiva, Astor and the Estée Lauder Group. In addition, International Shoppes is offering a free travel-size bottle of liquor with any duty free purchase. The bottles are being provided by Absolut, Glenmorangie and Patrón. Godiva will also sponsor a brand ambassador for the first month of service. She will be stationed both in the store and will also service the gate area with samples as the flight gets closer to boarding.

The new International Shoppes store was dressed for the occasion (above and below)



Director Matt Greenbaum said: “iS has many years of experience servicing JAL and has adjusted the selection of merchandise at the store accordingly to suit their tastes. The first day of sales was encouraging with customers buying in multiples for gifting and personal use. The partnership between iS, JAL, Massport and Airmall resulted in a great inaugural celebration and will result in tremendous growth for duty free at Boston Logan.”

Godiva and Jack Daniel’s were among the brands to support the retailer’s activity to mark the occasion; a number of JAL, Massport and Airmall executives, along with the Consulate General of Japan, were given bottles of Jack Daniel’s Silver Select, engraved to commemorate the day’s events


This is the first time that the Boeing 787 is being used by a commercial airliner in the US, and the flight is booked for the next two months of service. Once arriving in Narita, customers will be able to connect to 21 additional destinations throughout Asia.

This week’s flight sees the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner serving the US market


Ready for take-off: The senior crew of the JAL flight at Boston Airport


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