Airport, airline retail and the passenger on board.

As the airline and duty free retail conference season unfolds with forthcoming events in London, Cannes and Miami, many specialist travel IT and consultancy firms are offering their proposals as to how the future will unfold and how these new technical advances will improve the passenger experience and the consequent retail revenues. In the last 10 days, five companies in this arena have all issued major statements related to on board, in-flight and airport retail activities.

SITA, the Paris based tech operation released an impressive promo video on YouTube promoting the future headlining it as “What the passenger wants”.

Meanwhile Amadeus, another travel related IT firm launched their report “The always connected passenger". m-Travel.com and Travel Distribution News also entered the fray with an informative article headed "Ancillary sales on mobile devices can instantaneously alter passengers travel experience"

Likewise, Guestlogix the Canadian Company well known for their payment terminals and merchandising initiatives with airlines introduced "Destination based and experienced focused offerings". IATA have also been “Shaping aviation's future” with their Vision 2050 theme.

All these developments and more are well summarised on the excellent website r&d hub who regularly feature how these industries are advancing for the benefit of all.

The common theme for all these initiatives is technology, mobile connectivity and social networking. How this market unfolds, we shall have to see, but what is clear is that the good old days for airline and airport retail is well and truly over.

Check before you fly at www.dutyfreeonarrival.com