Inflight Sales Group (ISG) founder and CEO Jean-Marcel Rouff has confirmed directly to TRBusiness that the retailer has been awarded a five-year contract to operate the Philippine Airlines (PAL) duty free contract.

 

This follows the narrowing down of the list of bidders to a final three in mid-2016, led by ISG, DFASS and the Regent Travel Retail Group in partnership with Duty Free Philippines’ ground shops.

 

As exclusively reported last July, the airline amended the concession length from three to five years with the inclusion of a two-year extension, according to Resty Tizon, Inflight Duty Free Director who handled the process last year.

 

INTEREST WAS HIGH IN THIS LONG-RUNNING TENDER

At that time she confirmed to TRBusiness that there were additional companies who showed initial interest in the contract, but ultimately decided not to bid. These were Tourvest Duty Free and Lagardère Travel Retail.

 

According to the airline, the average spend onboard last year was around $2, although the airline has been trying to attract more Chinese passengers.

 

In the last 18 months it has also acquired several new aircraft, including five Airbus 321 planes and two B777s. This year it is also due to take delivery of another two A321s.

 

NEW ROUTES – MORE INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS

On January 1 this year, Philippine Airlines also launched its first international flight from Clark Airport, marking its new policy to try and spread more international connectivity outside the heavily congested capital city of Manila.

 

PAL also launched a second new non-stop service to Singapore from Mactan-Cebu Airport in December 2016.

 

In addition to the duty free contract to sell goods onboard, PAL has also increased the number of products now available through its Philippine Airlines Boutique online store.

 

This offers online purchasing of ‘lifestyle merchandise’, including special hotel deals, car rentals, tours and recreation packages, fashion items and gadgets.