Air France is saying bonjour to Phoenix by making the Arizona city its newest gateway city in the United States.
04.01.2024 - 08:13 / forbes.com / Louis Vuitton
Following a pilot boutique at Montréal Trudeau Airport in Canada, travel retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI) has opened another luxury vintage fashion and accessories store at Lisbon Airport called Preloved – Fashion in Full Circle.
ARI’s pioneering ‘pre-loved’ concept was opened in late 2021 at Montréal Trudeau through a partnership with Canadian start-up in the vintage luxury space, LXR. It sells classic luxury fashion brands from Chanel, Dior, Ferragamo, Gucci, and Hermès, to Louis Vuitton and Prada, as well as more niche high-end labels like Celine, Fendi, and Loewe.
The almost three-year gap between the two openings may hint at the difficulty in making this kind of proposition profitable in an airport environment. Richard Maynes, ARI’s global head of fashion and accessories commented: “The pre-loved concept is still a relatively new one in travel retail.”
But he added: “Since the launch of our first store, the savings versus downtown prices—as well as rare and vintage styles that are no longer being produced—have inspired a real appetite from customers buying into our circular concept.” He believes this type of concept has legs in the travel shopping space and said that “it is going to significantly influence and shape the way people shop in the coming years.”
In a statement about the launch, the Irish airport retailer did not reveal much about the brands and products available in the new standalone boutique in Lisbon Airport’s Terminal 1. Currently, there appears to be a focus on handbags, holdalls, and ties with a large presence from Louis Vuitton, plus some items from Chanel and Gucci.
According to fashion reseller thredUP, the secondhand market worldwide is expected to nearly double by 2027, reaching $350 billion. CEO James Reinhart said of the global market: “Resale is starting to blossom with many of the largest retailers in the world adopting more circular business models. We’re on a promising trajectory.”
Only a tiny fraction of that huge business will be funneled through the travel retail channel, but ARI is, nevertheless, making a start.Alain Brun, CEO of Portugal Duty Free, an ARI joint venture business, said: “We have seen a shift towards a more conscious consumer who aims to shop more sustainably and who gives more consideration to every purchase.”
The Irish retailer won the contract for the retail business at the airport in early 2022 and was invited to form a joint venture retail partnership with Lisbon Airport’s operator, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA), part of Vinci Airports. At the time, the company was already talking about adding a vintage offer in the 100,000 square feet of retail space that it was taking over.
Brun added: “We know that our customers seek out limited
Air France is saying bonjour to Phoenix by making the Arizona city its newest gateway city in the United States.
If there was any doubt about the health of the transatlantic aviation market, look no further than Phoenix. The city has just announced a new route with Air France, connecting the Arizona state capital with Paris. While air services come and go, to secure a European flag carrier on a new city pairing like this is notable.
A Victorian favourite once billed as the ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’, Llandudno has kept much of the charm that made it so popular. The curving promenade framing Llandudno Bay, the aroma of fish and chips wafting in the air, pastel-coloured art deco houses lining the seafront and old-fashioned amusements on Llandudno Pier all combine to deliver a quintessential British seaside break. The town also serves as gateway to a wealth of natural attractions in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and water-based adventures in Colwyn Bay. And a stay in Llandudno can be combined with a trip to Conwy, across the river of the same name, which has a mighty castle and Britain’s smallest house.
If you’re an American traveler, you’ve likely done this sort of calendar math, spotting where all the paid holidays fall this year and figuring out how to combine them with your own limited paid time off (PTO).
If you're ever wondering aloud where the hottest mid-winter celebrations take place, those in-the-know might quietly respond, “St. Barts.” The island's luxe air of mystery and remoteness are part of what makes it a seasonal staple for jet setters and superyachts as they follow the sun to the Caribbean in winter. The festivities rage on until the St. Barths Bucket Regatta in mid-March, but what most visitors don’t realize is that the island is practically a year-round one, since the only time hotels typically shut is at the height of hurricane season (late summer).
More than a hundred flights have been delayed and dozens cancelled today from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport due to a severe cold snap.
Although skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor enthusiasts enjoy all that the winter has to offer, there are scores of people who prefer sipping a Pina Colada while relaxing on a sun-drenched beach. These “snowbirds” flee the cold weather as soon as the first snowflake falls from the sky.
The most visited city in the world offers a great base from which to explore the surrounding area. Think sumptuous castles and ancient hunting grounds in under an hour from the Eiffel Tower or day trips to the Normandy D-Day landing beaches, Champagne tasting or visiting the Loire Valley château—all are possible in a day trip from Paris and here are six of the best.
TAP Air Portugal is celebrating the new year with a new flight sale offering trips to Europe and beyond starting as low as $379 round-trip.
It’s going to be a great year for airfare with domestic prices predicted to start even cheaper than 2023 and remain low for the next six months.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are on the countdown until their first flights depart from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with operations starting in exactly three months The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline will start operating flights and holidays from Liverpool John Lennon Airport in exactly three months, with a flight to Tenerife signalling the start of operations from the airport. To mark the special occasion, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have promised exciting plans at the airport for their first day.
Travelers heading to Paris better be ready to pay higher tourist taxes on their hotel rooms and alternative accommodations this year.