Airport Retailing Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Product, Airport Size, Distribution Channel, and Region, 2025-2033

Airport Retailing Market Size and Share:

The global airport retailing market size was valued at USD 29.0 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach USD 69.7 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.2% from 2025-2033. Asia Pacific currently dominates the market, holding a market share of over 40% in 2024. The market is driven by growing global air travel, higher disposable incomes, and increased demand for luxury and duty-free products. Longer dwell times, digital retail integration, and experiential shopping formats further boost passenger spending. Strategic brand placements and evolving consumer behavior enhance retail performance at terminals, contributing to the steady rise in the global airport retailing market share.

The global airport retailing market is intensely being fueled by the growth in international air connectivity and diversification of route networks. Airlines and airport operators globally are introducing direct long-haul and short-haul routes, especially between emerging and traditional economic powerhouses. This growth is attracting more international visitors, who usually stay longer at airports, especially in duty-free areas. Additional transit traffic, along with the geographical location of global hub airports in strategic locations such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia, is fueling retail potential. International tourism recovers and positive visa policies are also facilitating this growth. Airports are taking advantage of this phenomenon by incorporating luxury shopping formats, local cultural items, and branded partnerships to attract various consumer bases. As per the sources, in late 2024 Avolta secured a major contract to operate duty‑free, travel‑convenience, and specialty retail outlets at New York’s JFK International Airport, marking one of its largest North American deals to date and underscoring confidence in recovering passenger spending post-pandemic. Multilingual staff availability, many currency payments, and tactically curated shopping experiences are making airports viable shopping destinations that generate considerable non‑aeronautical revenues in global aviation infrastructure. 

In the United States, the airport retailing market outlook represented 87.80 % of share in 2024, driven by the premiumization and technology‑driven retail innovation focus of the country. International and regional airports are infusing smart retail solutions like AI‑enabled kiosks, augmented‑reality screens, and mobile‑enabled loyalty programs to improve customer interaction. These functionalities are tailored to appeal to tech‑savvy consumers who crave convenience, personalization, and speed. Furthermore, increasing consumer demand for luxury and gourmet is inducing the addition of high‑end fashion labels, artisan food stores, and custom service lounges. New York, Los Angeles, and Miami airports are strategically becoming retail hubs through collaborations with international brands to provide premium merchandise. With a consistent rise in domestic and international air travel, American airports are gearing up to maximize per‑passenger expenditures with value‑based promotions and data‑driven inventory management, hence ensuring that the nation plays an influential role in steering global airport retail trends. In August 2024, Oakland International Airport launched augmented‑reality (AR) games via a partnership with Agents of Discovery as part of the Bay Area Explorer campaign. This initiative turns passengers’ idle time into interactive, educational experiences and demonstrates how U.S. airports are leveraging immersive tech not only for passenger engagement but also to encourage tech‑enhanced retail and data capture.

Airport Retailing Market Trends:

Rising Bleisure Travel and Passenger Volume Fuels Airport Retail Demand

The global rise in bleisure travel—combining business with leisure—continues to elevate the trajectory of the airport retailing market growth. According to projections, Travel & Tourism is poised to contribute a record-breaking USD 11.7 trillion to the global economy, accounting for 10.3% of global GDP. This economic momentum is directly boosting consumer spending at airports. Moreover, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that airlines will carry a higher number of passengers as well as freight in 2025 than in 2024, with a corresponding rise in net margins from 3.4% to 3.7%. The rise in air traffic results in not only increased footfalls in airport retail outlets but also in increased volumes of sales. Airports are transforming into commercial centers, with retail stores serving the increasing number of travelers. The rising purchasing power of travelers, along with increased airport capacities across the globe, is providing fertile ground for retail companies to enhance their position in this high-value space.

Longer Dwell Times and Duty-Free Benefits Increase Purchase Intent

One major factor driving airport retailing market trends is the increased dwell time of passengers, mainly as a result of early check-in practices, higher security measures, and scheduling buffers. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, for example, has its average dwell time per passenger at 146 minutes. There is more than enough time here for passengers to browse and shop. Concurrently, the attraction of duty-free shopping—free from local and national taxes—provides an economic incentive to consumers to purchase luxury items, cosmetics, clothing, and electronics at favorable prices. These advantages are most attractive to international business travelers with increasing disposable incomes. Evolving consumer lifestyles and global popularity of affordable luxury are driving buying habits in airport terminals. Retailers are taking advantage of this by providing customized product offerings, airport-only brand exclusives, and short-term promotions, all targeting foot traffic and converting dwell time into revenue-producing activity for airports and brands alike.

Data-Driven Personalization and Souvenir Culture Drive Expansion

As per the airport retailing market analysis the market is becoming increasingly defined by data-driven initiatives designed to personalize the shopping experience. Airlines and airports are investing in advanced analytics to monitor flight timetables, passenger behaviors, and traffic patterns to better manage inventory and promote. Brands are using price skimming strategies and geolocation promotion to match their products with tourist inclinations. At the same time, the increased cultural phenomenon of buying souvenirs during travel—mostly out of a need to commemorate the experience or give gifts to friends and family—is consolidating the importance of airport shopping. This is especially apparent in millennials and Gen Z travelers, who prioritize authenticity and experience-driven consumption. These customers are being appealed to by retailers creating exclusive, locally sourced products that leverage this trend. Brands are also tailoring airport retail environments via immersive presentation, interactive kiosks, and multilingual personnel to complement the overall traveler experience. Overall, these efforts individually serve to create a more impactful retail environment that will help sustain the momentum for airport retailing globally.

Airport Retailing Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global airport retailing market, along with forecast at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. The market has been categorized based on product, airport size, and distribution channel.

Analysis by Product:

• Liquor and Tobacco
• Perfumes and Cosmetics
• Fashion and Accessories
• Food and Beverages
• Others

Perfumes and cosmetics represented the biggest proportion of the worldwide airport retailing market in 2024 at 37.6% as a result of strong traveler preference for duty-free purchases of luxury and personal care items. The reason for such popularity is that these products have huge price benefits when sold at airports and are very attractive to both local and foreign passengers. The presence of brand premium products, exclusive travel retail versions, and trial-size versions stimulates impulse purchases. Airports also advance the experiential aspect of cosmetic selling with digital signage, beauty advisors, and sampling areas. Brands spend on airport-only introductions and bespoke packaging to continue drawing in consumers. Perfume and skincare counters tend to be placed in the busiest zones inside terminals to capture greatest possible visibility and conversion. Increasing self-care movements, particularly among millennials and Gen Z travelers, are also driving demand back to airports. The coupling of travel ease and luxury retailing persists to render this segment the leading contributor to airport retail revenues worldwide.

Analysis by Airport Size:

• Large Airport
• Medium Airport
• Small Airport

Large airports led the world airport retailing industry in 2024, with 57.8% share, due to their high traffic volumes, increased terminal capacity, and large retail facilities. These airports, frequently situated in major international gateways or capitals, provide a wider range of duty-free shops, specialty retailers, and luxury department stores. With increased layovers, global travelers at large airports are more likely to participate in shopping activity, facilitated by expansive shopping areas and engaging brand environments. These airports also gain advantages of sophisticated retail analytics, multilingual capabilities, and technology-driven customer interaction, including interactive kiosks and mobile shopping. Also complementing the attraction is the availability of flagship stores and high-end brand partnerships. Airports such as Dubai International, Singapore Changi, and Heathrow have established standards for integrated shopping experiences, achieving convenience, entertainment, and luxury. As major infrastructure developments continue to roll out worldwide, large airports are likely to further solidify their dominance in airport retailing revenue capture.

Analysis by Distribution Channel:

• Direct Retailers
• Convenience Stores
• Specialty Retailers
• Departmental Stores

Specialty retailers held a 37.3% share of the international airport retail market in 2024, demonstrating their capacity to satisfy niche tastes and deliver differentiated, category-focused shopping experiences. They target individual product lines like electronics, confectionary, local souvenirs, books, or health and wellness products, serving various passenger groups. Their focused merchandise and bespoke service propositions resonate with time-conscious customers in search of convenient, relevant transactions. As opposed to open-to-business general merchandise stores, specialty stores are able to respond rapidly to seasonal fashion, passenger traffic, and destination-oriented product appeals. Airport officials are more frequently reserving retail space to these specialized formats because of their passenger satisfaction rate and per-square-foot sales performance. Electronic leverage through click-and-collect and targeted promotional advertising boosts their performance even further. Repeat traveler interaction through loyalty programs and exclusivity for products is also a benefit for specialty retailers. Their flexibility, coupled with intense merchandising, makes them key drivers of non-aeronautical airport revenues.

Regional Analysis:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa

Asia Pacific dominated the world airport retailing market during 2024, holding a 40% share, thanks to strong regional air traffic, increasing disposable incomes, and changing consumer lifestyles. China, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are top international transit points, receiving millions of passengers every year. These airports provide large duty-free areas, creative store layouts, and high-quality shopping experiences that attract both business and leisure travelers. The cultural trend towards gifting and luxury brand purchasing also fuel spending at airport stores. Furthermore, the region benefits from robust mobile commerce integration and digital payment platforms that support convenience and speed. Governments and airport entities in Asia Pacific are still investing in modern airport infrastructure, growing retail presences, and facilitating cross-border e-commerce platforms. With the region recovering rapidly from macroeconomic shifts while still registering high passenger traffic, its leadership in airport retailing is poised to remain strong over the next few years.

Key Regional Takeaways:

North America Airport Retailing Market Report

North America's airport retail market is growing steadily with growing passenger traffic, especially in key transit centers such as Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Chicago O'Hare. The airport retailing market forecast reflects strong momentum as terminals prioritize convenience, speed, and personalized services. Passengers increasingly look for speedy shopping, leading airports to implement self-checkout systems, real-time inventory management, and pre-ordering. High per capita consumption and robust demand for branded commodities, wellness products, and technology accessories drive higher spending. Additionally, airports are reshaping retail experiences to showcase local identity by featuring regional artisanal products and culturally relevant merchandise. Digital engagement—through addressable mobile offers and data-driven personalization—is transforming passenger interaction with retail areas. Airport operators are also redesigning terminal configurations to optimize flow and accessibility, boosting consumer satisfaction and commercial yield. All of these combined make North America a competitive and dynamic force in the global airport retailing industry.

United States Airport Retailing Market Report

The United States airport retailing market is experiencing consistent growth, spurred by changing traveler behavior and increasing discretionary spending among frequent travelers. Airports nationwide are being repositioned as commercial centers, hosting an array of shopping experiences such as luxury, specialty retail, and digital retail stores. The implementation of cutting-edge analytics and consumer data knowledge facilitates customized shopping experiences, which promotes greater passenger expenditure. A recent report estimates U.S. spending in travel will increase by 3.9% to USD 1.35 Trillion, demonstrating a healthy outlook for passenger volumes and retail opportunities in airport terminals. Furthermore, the growth in international and long-haul domestic flying is yielding longer dwell times, offering increased opportunities for retail interaction. Increased emphasis on experiential shopping, such as pop-up shops and interactive brand experiences, is boosting consumer interaction on airport premises. In addition, bringing loyalty programs into association with retail outlets is encouraging repeat buying among frequent flyers. The increasing popularity of contactless payment systems and self-checkout machines is helping to provide smooth and hassle-free shopping experiences. With ongoing recovery in passenger traffic and airports updating their infrastructure, the market holds potential for future growth, fueled by retail format innovation as well as focus on targeted consumer engagement strategies.

Europe Airport Retailing Market Analysis

Airport retailing in Europe is gaining from an increased emphasis on sustainable travel experience and high-end product offer. The market in the region is dominated by large volumes of passengers at key transit points that are, in turn, increasingly leveraging off non-aeronautical sources of revenue through carefully planned retail spaces. 814 Million air travelers were transported within the EU during the first nine months of 2024, 8.9% up on the same period in 2023, a sign of increasing opportunities for consumers to visit airports for retailing, with tourists increasingly interested in locally made goods and artisan products, encouraging airports to incorporate regional and cultural retailing concepts. The move towards environmentally responsible consumerism is motivating retailers to carry sustainable and ethically sourced merchandise. Developments in digital signage and smartphone apps are enhancing real-time advertising and marketing, raising retailer-passenger interaction. Duty-free shopping continues to be a money-spinner, particularly for international terminals. European seasonal travel enables airports to respond to their retail mix.

Asia Pacific Airport Retailing Market Analysis

Asia Pacific airport retailing is growing fast, backed by the region's middle-class population growth and increased frequency of air travel. India's air passenger traffic is forecast to register a robust 7% growth in 2025, reflecting strong momentum in the broader Asia Pacific aviation industry, India Brand Equity Foundation said. Airports place themselves strategically as lifestyle locations, integrating varied retail types like cosmetics, technology, fashion, and food and beverage. The growth of mobile commerce and digital wallets is simplifying payment, driving more in-transit buys. In addition, the power of travel influencers and social media trends is defining retail shopping patterns, particularly among younger travelers. Regional airports are now embracing cultural themes and heritage products to attract domestic and international visitors, creating additional retailing opportunities. Digital loyalty programs and AI-recommended products upgrade passenger shopping, making the regional airport retail market more solid.

Latin America Airport Retailing Market Analysis

In Latin America, the airport retailing market is also moving forward as a result of increasing tourism and development in aviation infrastructure. According to a report by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), air travel is expected to more than triple by 2050 across Latin American countries, with air transport already supporting 8.3 Million jobs, about 3% of all employment, highlighting the sector’s economic importance. Airports are investing in retail space redesigns to create open, accessible layouts that encourage passenger footfall. Retailers are using bilingual signs and multicultural product offerings to appeal to the multilingual traveler population. Additionally, the growth of low-cost carriers and regional links is generating traffic in secondary airports, paving the way for retail development. The addition of local crafts and gourmet food options is enhancing the retail composition and offering travelers distinct shopping experiences.

Middle East and Africa Airport Retailing Market Analysis

The Middle Eastern and African airport retailing market is witnessing significant growth due to escalating luxury brand penetration and the growth of gateway hubs. The World Travel & Tourism Council states that travel & tourism is expected to account for over 10% of Saudi Arabia's GDP in 2025, with sector jobs reaching an all-time peak of 2.7 Million, a sign of the growing importance of travel-driven commerce within the region. Increased religious and leisure travel is driving higher passenger throughput, enhancing retail interaction. Airports in the area are turning to premium product lines and VIP shopping lounges to appeal to high-spending travelers. Also, longer layovers and transit times are leading travelers to investigate shopping choices more extensively, thus driving retail revenues.

Competitive Landscape:

The global airport retailing market's competitive framework is defined by the presence of multinational companies as well as local players competing to win consumers' hearts with innovation, strategic alliances, and locational offerings. Flagship operators partner with airport management to obtain the best retail positions and sole concessions, guaranteeing maximum foot traffic and brand exposure. Businesses are emphasizing experiential shopping formats, combining digital kiosks, reward apps, and interactive screens to maximize passenger interaction. Duty-free players have a stronghold in major overseas terminals, presenting refined retail assortments of luxury items, cosmetics, electronics, and sweets. At the same time, specialty stores and local brands are using cultural appeal and tailored service to win over niche segments. Mergers and acquisitions are also restructuring the market, allowing brands to expand operations and diversify portfolios. In addition, the embrace of omnichannel strategies—combining online pre-orders with in-terminal pickup—is fueling competition, compelling retailers to maximize inventory, pricing, and promotions based on different traveler profiles and airport dynamics.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the airport retailing market with detailed profiles of all major companies, including:

• Airport Retail Group LLC
• Autogrill S.p.A.
• China Duty Free Group Co. Ltd. (China International Travel Service Co. Ltd.)
• DFS Group Ltd. (LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
• Dubai Duty Free
• Dufry AG
• Duty Free Americas Inc.
• Flemingo International Ltd.
• Gebr. Heinemann SE & Co. KG
• Japan Airport Terminal Co. Ltd.
• KING POWER International
• Lagardère Travel Retail (Lagardère Group)

Latest News and Developments:

• May 2025: Lagardère Travel Retail Belgium launched a Victoria’s Secret boutique at Brussels Airport, reinforcing its collaboration with the airport and expanding premium fashion offerings. The store, located in Pier A, featured lingerie, sleepwear, fragrances, and accessories, aimed at enhancing the passenger shopping experience with global beauty and fashion brands.
• May 2025: Nestlé and WHSmith North America Media launched a three-week experiential retail media campaign in U.S. airports, including a full terminal takeover at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal E. The campaign promoted Essentia Alkaline Water through immersive displays and an interactive basketball arcade, blending brand engagement with high-dwell travel moments.
• April 2025: Ospree Duty Free launched India’s first in-lounge duty-free retail store at Mumbai Airport’s Business Class Lounge. It offers curated global luxury items, personalized service, and seamless digital billing. The initiative redefined retail convenience and exclusivity for premium travelers, setting a new standard for Indian travel retail innovation.
• April 2025: Burger Singh opened a new outlet at Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport as part of its strategy to target transit points in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Using a kiosk model for high-throughput, low-capex service, the brand aimed to expand to more Indian airports while contributing to local employment and visibility.
• February 2025: Depart. A Mental, by Swedish firm Co-X, debuted its retail-as-a-service concept at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The 300-square-metre space hosts rotating global and local fashion, beauty, and tech brands. With flexible rentals and on-the-go services like a beauty bar, it provided dynamic exposure and innovation in physical retail for traveling consumers.

Airport Retailing Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the airport retailing market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global airport retailing market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's Five Forces analysis assists stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the airport retailing industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.