Business: Airport Shops "Take Off" in U.S.

In the age of online shopping, retailers are finding that airports can take some of the sting out of declining mall traffic. These days, you don’t have to hold an international ticket to buy at many duty-free shops—and it actually can be a pretty good deal. The Journal’s Scott McCartney writes that major airports around the world, from Singapore to Dubai, London to Beijing, have essentially become shopping malls with gates. And the U.S. is finally starting to catch up. Just as they have upgraded restaurants and basic amenities, U.S. airports are finding they need to improve duty-free stores, which have become a necessity for many travelers who routinely stock up on perfume, cosmetics, alcohol and chocolate coming home from trips. Airports like duty-free shops because they get a cut of the revenue; luxury-goods makers like the chance to interact in person with shoppers; and customers like the convenience, savings and opportunity for capricious purchases.