American Airlines has ceased selling duty free merchandise on select international flights as of Friday, 20 March, 2015, due to a contractual disagreement between American Airlines and its concessionaire DFASS.

 

American Airlines told TRBusiness today that “duty free sales will continue on select international US Airways flights until further notice, and there is duty free shopping available at many of the international airports we serve.”

 

A merger between American Airlines and US Airways took place last year and on 31 March, 2014, both carriers joined the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, Finnair among other major international airlines.

 

According to reports on 15 March, from various US media sources, it was announced in an email to members enrolled in the US Airways’ ‘Miles Program’, that the two carriers will also merge their loyalty schemes in the ‘next 30 days’.

 

TRBusiness has contacted DFASS for comment and awaits a statement.

 

ANOTHER SHOCK MOVE…

The announcement from AA, follows the shock move by Delta Airlines who decided to drop its inflight duty free programme in August last year. This was seemingly on a permanent basis, after failing to agree on terms with its concessionaire, also DFASS.

 

At the time, in a statement Delta said: “Delta has ended its on-board duty free programme (effective August 13) after the airline and its vendor were unable to agree on terms to continue to administer the programme.”

 

At the time, DFASS declined to comment. John Garner, Deputy Chairman, told TRBusiness: “We are unable to discuss the matter at this moment in time.” DFASS still retains contracts with US Airways.

 

At the TRTradeshow, last September – at which TRBusiness moderated a stimulating inflight retail workshop – Anthony Fletorides, General Manager for DFASS UK Limited, told audience members that he believed Delta’s decision to drop duty free was an isolated case and would not have a domino effect on other US airlines.