The duty- and tax-free sales channel is an integral part of the broader aviation and maritime industries, enhancing traveller experience and generating much needed revenues to support the continued infrastructure development. The industry supports significant numbers of high quality jobs. Details of the size and development of the industry in some of the most important regions globally can be found in our Economic Impact Studies,
In June 2026 the Council together with the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) organised a webinar examining the impacts of the 2026 Middle East conflict for the global duty free and travel retail industry, moderated by DFWC President, Sarah Branquinho.
Slava Cheglatonyev, PhD, MSc, IAP, Senior Director Economic Policy and Airport Business and Interim Head of Airports as Businesses Center of Excellence at Airport Council International (ACI) World, provided an up-to-date picture on the impact of the war on air travel and outline scenarios for the immediate and longer-term macroeconomic effects.
Abdeslam Agzoul, MEADFA President and CEO Middle East & Africa AVOLTA, presented the regional impacts on travel, and resultant damage to all stakeholders’ businesses in the region.
In conjunction with m1nd-set the DFWC publishes reports on air travel trends, travellers’ shopping behaviours and perceptions of the duty- and tax-free offer globally.
