Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has told local press that it is expecting an initial downturn in duty free sales when the new ICAO liquid and gel guidelines are introduced next month.

The operator of the country?s major airports also estimates that it will spend a minimum of R.2.3m ($322,427) on training security staff to meet the new regulations which mirror those typically outlined in the ICAO guidelines circulated to all airports earlier this year.
Acsa is also quoted as saying that initially its duty free sales may suffer if passengers are confused or discouraged from making purchases from its airport duty free shops.
Retail revenue accounts for 36% of Acsa?s non-aeronautical revenue and non-aeronautical income as a whole represented around 45% of the airport operator?s revenue for the financial year to March 2006. During the same period, retail revenue rose by 6% to R.310.2m ($43.4m).
Meanwhile, back in Asia the King Power International Group (KPIG) has told local press that it is expecting its sales to fall by between 20% to 30% in the first few months following the introduction of the new rules at Thailand's airports of Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok), Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket.