Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has inaugurated a second World Duty Free free walkthrough outlet at its US trans-border area, TRBusiness can reveal.

Located in the US Terminal area after security, the recently opened outlet stocks a broad range of merchandise tailored at US-bound passengers, according to Vancouver Airport Authority Vice President Commercial Development Scott Norris.

New brands include Herschel, Radley, Fjällräven and Mywalit in the travel category and Casio, Daniel Wellington, Sekonda and Anne Klein in the watches and jewellery category.

“We are also continuing to work on redeveloping our pre-security domestic food court and shopping area and extending the international pier, creating an entirely new commercial zone and local food market within a uniquely YVR terminal environment,” Norris revealed in a recent interview.

DUTY FREE UP +11%

A pop-up style concept featuring cosmetic brand Whoo will also arrive at the international terminal in the coming months, flanked by a soon-to-be announced fashion concept to accompany existing premium boutiques such as Burberry and Cartier.

Plans for the new commercial spread follow a successful 2017 for the airport, with passenger traffic rising by 8.4% to total 24.2m.

This has translated into robust retail growth, with duty free revenue posting a +11% increase year-on-year.

One major influencer has been Air Canada’s Vancouver to Delhi service, which having launched last year has now been expanded to a year-round service off the back of strong passenger demand.

YVR is capitalising on this momentum by undertaking a thorough review of its concession programme across the terminals.

As reported last year, YVR embarked on a series of ambitious retail transformations at its US and international terminals.

New boutiques to the international terminal included Gucci, Bulgari, Burberry and Bottega Veneta conveniently located past World Duty Free Group’s main walkthrough store.

World Duty Free operates three stores at the International Terminal after security on level 3 and at gates C and D, and now has two units after security at the US Terminal.

For more on Vancouver’s extensive retail transformation, see the March Americas edition of TRBusiness, available soon.

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