“Airport Retail Survey and Luxury Trends 2015-2016,” a new report by Conlumino, examines current trends in airport retail and how travelers engage with retail offerings, with particular focus on luxury brands and the changes anticipated for 2015–2016.
The report identifies the main factors shaping customer perceptions and buying behaviour at airports, highlights preferred product categories, and names the airports and brands that deliver the strongest retail experiences in both duty-free and duty-paid environments.
Key findings from the study include:
- 60 percent of travelers spend 15 minutes or less in a duty-paid airport retail outlet per visit;
- Among respondents older than 45 years, magazines and newspapers were the most commonly purchased items at airport retail outlets in 2014;
- Significant spending was reported on precious jewellery, briefcases, men’s bags, and handbags during airport retail visits;
- 92 percent of surveyed travelers planned to purchase Dior products at an airport departure or duty-free area in the coming year (2015);
- Competitive pricing and the availability of luxury brands at discounted prices are primary motivations for purchasing at airport retail stores.
The findings underline a fast-paced retail environment where many passengers make quick, targeted purchases, and older travelers still favor traditional print media. Luxury items and accessories remain high-value purchases, driven by price competitiveness and deals available in airport channels. For retailers and airport operators, the data points to opportunities in optimising store layouts for quick transactions, tailoring offers for high-spend categories, and maintaining competitive pricing strategies to attract brand-conscious passengers.