Avolta and Air Canada form North America loyalty programme partnership

Avolta has partnered with Air Canada to create a new loyalty programme collaboration that features Club Avolta and the airline’s Aeroplan scheme.

The initiative incorporates over 900 Avolta travel retail stores, and will offer more than 16 million members another way to earn, according to the company.

Members who link their Club Avolta and Aeroplan accounts through the Club Avolta app can earn one Aeroplan point for every C$2 (US$1.40) spent on eligible purchases in-store at participating locations operated by Avolta’s Hudson and Dufry, when pre-ordering through Avolta’s Reserve & Collect online service, or through the company’s Club Avolta app.

Later this year, the partnership will extend to Avolta’s HMSHost dining locations, so members can also earn on F&B purchases at casual dining restaurants, quick-service outlets, bars, and Grab & Go spots.

Travellers who join both loyalty programmes will gain access to targeted promotions and offers across Air Canada’s global network, and at Avolta’s duty free, convenience, and participating specialty retail outlets in Canada, including at Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Calgary and Billy Bishop Toronto airports, as well as at major US airports such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago O’Hare.

“The Club Avolta and Aeroplan partnership represents a transformational milestone for Club Avolta as our first North American airline loyalty integration,” noted Avolta Senior Vice President of Digital, North America Atousa Ghoreichi.

“With Club Avolta, we’re enhancing the Air Canada customer journey by providing additional earning opportunities to Aeroplan members. As our partnership grows to nearly 1,900 retail and food & beverage outlets in North America, there will be endless ways for travellers to earn.”

“Travel starts well before the boarding gate, and we want to make more of it rewarding for our members,” commented Air Canada Vice President, Loyalty and Product Scott O’Leary.

“Our partnership with Avolta brings Aeroplan into moments that are already part of how people travel – grabbing a bite before their flight, picking up a duty-free deal – creating more ways for our members to earn across the entire trip.”

Immfly, Wizz Air and gateretail launch new integrated digital cabin ecosystem

Immfly Wizz Air and gateretail cabin ecosystem — Image Credit: Immfly

Immfly, Wizz Air, and gateretail have launched an integrated digital cabin ecosystem that unifies onboard retail, passenger and crew connectivity, and operational data into a single platform.

The development is described as a significant step forward in the digital transformation of Europe’s commercial aviation sector.

The collaboration brings together Immfly’s digital cabin technology; gateretail’s inflight retail expertise and understanding of passenger buying behaviour; and the Equilux–Iridium connectivity solution to deliver a more connected, efficient, and engaging onboard experience across Wizz Air’s fleet.

By integrating connectivity, retail and operational data flows, the airline will be able to enhance the passenger experience, improve crew efficiency, and unlock new revenue opportunities – all while enabling real‑time decision support for cockpit and operations teams.

Wizz Air rethinks the onboard experience

After months of joint development and extensive testing, Immfly and Wizz Air have now deployed Bluetooth‑enabled in‑seat ordering across the entire fleet of more than 260 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.

Passengers who download the airline app before their flight will be able to browse and purchase food, beverages, and boutique items directly from their personal devices, even without internet access. Orders are then transmitted via Bluetooth to the crew, improving service efficiency, reducing wait times, and enabling a more personalised retail experience.

This initiative is powered by Immfly’s unified retail and cabin‑digitalisation ecosystem, and integrated with gateretail’s inflight retail systems, helping translate onboard demand into a more intuitive and effective retail experience.

Immfly Wizz Air and gateretail integrated digital cabin ecosystem — Image Credit: Immfly

In parallel, Immfly and Wizz Air have also launched a new low‑bandwidth connectivity solution trial, powered by Immfly’s proprietary Equilux server and Iridium’s global satellite network. The Proof of Concept will run for six months across five aircraft in the UK, with results expected in late summer.

The programme enables a new suite of premium onboard services including wireless in-flight entertainment purchases; messaging packages, including multiple WhatsApp bundle options; in‑seat ordering for food, beverages, and boutique items; live payment authorisation enabled through Iridium connectivity; and real‑time operational data, including flight information, moving map, and destination content.

Beyond passenger‑facing features, the programme also introduces cockpit-application integration, a key innovation that enables real‑time data sharing and decision‑support tools. This capability will support improved route planning, fuel optimisation, and new cost‑saving opportunities for Wizz Air, embedding operational efficiencies directly into day-to-day flying.

Wizz Air Chief Commercial Officer Ian Malin commented: “This launch is about rethinking what the onboard experience looks like in a low-cost environment. We are investing in smart, scalable technology that gives customers more control and more choice, from ordering at their seat to staying connected in the air.

“At the same time, it helps our crews deliver a faster, more seamless service. We are constantly exploring smarter ways to operate our fleet and deliver more for our customers, and this is a clear example of that approach in action.”

Immfly President Fernando Guinea noted: “This partnership marks a major step forward in bringing the digital cabin to life. With Immfly’s unified digital ecosystem at the core – combining retail, connectivity, and operational data – we’re enabling Wizz Air to elevate every aspect of the onboard experience.

“From Bluetooth in-seat ordering to real-time operational insights, this programme demonstrates how Immfly’s technology drives stronger engagement, higher retail performance, and meaningful operational and commercial efficiencies across the airline.”

Gateretail VP Jose Lirio added: “In-seat ordering by Bluetooth represents an important breakthrough for both passengers and airline partners. It gives passengers a more seamless way to shop the onboard offer, while giving crew real-time visibility to support efficient fulfilment.”

SKYdeals’ optimised inflight shopping platform moves beyond the cabin

SKYdeals airlines inflight — Image Credit: SKYdeals

E-commerce platform SKYdeals is diversifying into the entire travel retail ecosystem, having refined its so-called ‘shoppertainment’ approach with airlines. Over the past five years, they have included major carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad Airways, plus the all-business La Compagnie.

The Paris‑based startup, which has been a participant in the LVMH accelerator La Maison des Startups, is now stepping into airports, cruise lines, lounges, and rail networks. It marks a shift in how digital retail is likely to evolve across the travel journey.

Julien Sivan, CEO and Co-founder of SKYdeals, says the timing is deliberate. “There’s a paradox at the heart of travel retail: airports dedicate more than two‑thirds of their space to shopping, yet passengers consistently rank it among their lowest priorities,” he said. “Traditional duty-free catalogues are declining and conversion rates stay flat despite record traffic.”

According to Kearney, for the third consecutive year, the gap between traffic and value has widened, and the management consultancy concluded that what was a temporary mismatch “has now turned into a structural disconnect”.

SKYdeals was built on the simple insight that passengers don’t need to shop – but they do need to be entertained. The solution: make shopping the entertainment. And with operators looking for new ways to create engagement, not just exposure, the company is now taking its shoppertainment model to the entire travel retail ecosystem.

Originally built for the constraints of inflight connectivity and short dwell times, the platform uses a set of psychological levers – exclusivity, contextual discovery, time‑limited offers, social dynamics, and gamification – to transform idle moments into retail participation.

For example, the company’s FlyOver Deals, flash sales, group buying mechanics, and live auctions were tested across various airline environments, and there was a consistent outcome: when the experience was playful and time‑bound, conversion rates rose.

Five years of inflight insights

Armed with this intelligence (and other insights), expansion beyond aviation was a natural next step. Airports offer predictable dwell times and high‑value audiences; cruise ships provide captive communities with strong social dynamics; and rail operators are increasingly digitising the onboard experience. While each of these environments varies, they all share the same challenge: passengers rarely arrive intending to shop.

Sivan said: “Aircraft cabins are the toughest environment in travel retail: limited bandwidth, short windows, and a distracted audience. If shoppertainment works there, it can work anywhere that travellers have to wait.”

For partners, SKYdeals now offers two routes. The first is a turnkey, white‑label e‑commerce platform with shoppertainment built in. This is marketplace‑ready and deployable within weeks, according to the company. The second is a suite of digital services for operators that want to integrate specific mechanics into existing systems, from contextual deal engines to live auction modules.

As the travel retail industry looks for new ways to convert attention into revenue, SKYdeals is positioning itself not as a retailer, but as the technology partner that can rewire the experience – and for the better, it would argue. The next phase of shoppertainment, it seems, will be played out far beyond the aisle.

Dnata expands Aer Lingus partnership with new onboard retail programme

Dnata Catering & Retail expands its partnership with Aer Lingus.

Dnata’s new deal with Aer Lingus includes a five-year retail contract.

Dnata Catering & Retail has strengthened its long-running collaboration with Aer Lingus with the launch of the airline’s new inflight retail programme, expanding the partnership to include a five-year retail contract alongside the remaining five years of dnata’s hub catering agreement.

The expanded scope reflects Aer Lingus’ confidence in dnata’s operational capability across catering, retail and integrated technology.

The new retail operations now cover more than 180 Aer Lingus flights daily from its bases in Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Manchester. Under the agreement, dnata will manage the inflight retail programme end to end, including sourcing, procurement, warehousing and technology provision. The partnership will continue to evolve with new browsing and personalisation features, with the product range shaped by customer feedback to enhance the inflight shopping experience.

Robin Padgett, CEO of dnata Catering & Retail, said: “This partnership takes our collaboration with Aer Lingus to the next level – uniting our expertise in catering, retail, and technology to create an exceptional onboard experience. Together, we’re delivering a modern, data-driven retail programme that celebrates Irish brands, improves efficiency, and enhances passenger choice.”

The refreshed range showcases a curated mix of local Irish and international names, reflecting Aer Lingus’ signature hospitality. Travellers can expect homegrown favourites including Sculpted by Aimee, Tan Organic, BPerfect and The Smooth Company, together with Deli-Lites supplying freshly made Irish sandwiches and wraps. The launch also coincides with Aer Lingus’ festive season menu, featuring seasonal dishes such as a turkey and stuffing sandwich, a Christmas cheese and cracker box and holiday-themed gift items.

The launch coincides with Aer Lingus’ festive season menu.

Passenger insight will continue to play a central role in shaping the evolving offer, ensuring the range reflects customer tastes while championing Irish products. To support convenience and pre-engagement, customers can browse the onboard magazine “Bia” digitally before flying and purchase featured items on board. The programme is powered by dnata’s integrated retail technology ecosystem, enabling contactless payment, real-time data analytics and self-serve reporting to support Aer Lingus in operational and commercial planning.

Its DF shopping includes a mix of local Irish and international names, including homegrown favourite Sculpted by Aimee (right).

Adrian Dunne, Chief Operations Officer, Aer Lingus, said: “The addition of inflight retail to the existing partnership we have with dnata will drive significant operational benefits, whilst enhancing our customer experience at the same time. The programme will be delivered via a new crew iOS app, which will allow for a data-driven product range tailored to our customers’ preferences and proudly showcasing a wide selection of Irish brands.”

The new retail experience will reach more than 10.5 million Aer Lingus passengers annually, offering a refreshed onboard proposition and further opportunities for innovation across both catering and retail.

Dnata’s catering and retail division employs more than 10,400 staff globally and produces over 110 million meals per year, supporting full-service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations worldwide.

Can InterLnkd revolutionise inflight retail with AirMall solution?

The InterLinkd platform could be available as early as the end of this year.

An inflight retail platform for airlines and travel providers claims to have introduced the first solution that can turn an airline’s onboard Wi-Fi into a full-scale digital shopping showroom, connecting travellers to more than 20,000 brands in the air.

Four-year-old InterLnkd, which powers white-label digital shopping malls, says that its two platforms – TravelStylist for pre-departure, and AirMall for inflight – will “unlock a new ancillary revenue stream” from consumer purchases across categories like fashion, beauty, and travel essentials.

The plug-and-play solution from the UK-based startup is said to integrate into existing onboard portals, with passengers using their own devices to browse and buy. Purchases are then delivered directly to their home or travel destination.

Barry Klipp CEO InterLnkd inflight retail

Barry Klipp: “Our vision was to build the largest digital shopping mall for the travel industry.”

Airmall – which might launch as early as this quarter through airlines partnered with Viasat (a WiFi connectivity provider that was cleared to acquire Inmarsat in May 2023) – removes onboard stocking and airport delivery constraints while giving passengers more choice. The platform is deployable across an airline’s entire route network and offers carriers a way to offset the cost of inflight connectivity. It also uses a proprietary matching engine called MotiVatedData so that each mall can curate personalised product recommendations based on a passenger’s profile and destination.

InterLnkd + Viasat = 60 airline options

The tech provider is a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2025, and CEO Barry Klipp told TRBusiness: “Viasat can monetise the consumer behaviour based on how they shop with a revenue stream back to the airline; it’s a commission model. This solution enables airlines to make the most of their Wi-Fi investments.”

The Viasat deal opens up their 60 airlines to InterLnkd, but there will be agreements with each airline. The tech startup has also signed off on a partnership with an airline that has Starlink. “That will go live next year, but I can’t reveal which carrier,” said Klipp. So far, Starlink, owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has partnered with a number of airlines, including British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.

Inflight vision

On a theoretical Airmall-equipped London to New York flight, passengers will have the option of shopping in either the UK or US mall, “the digital equivalent of Westfield,” said Klipp. “Our vision was to build the largest digital shopping mall for the travel industry to monetise from, and that meant opening up the world of High Street retailers and e-commerce retailers, be they Next or Amazon, Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s.”

Klipp told TRBusiness that InterLnkd is currently in talks with seven airlines globally. As for the existing inflight concessionaire model, the CEO said AirMall would be complementary to those operations, but totally separate. “Ours is not the world of duty-free,” he said.

If InterLnkd takes off, it will signal the evolution, even shake-up, of inflight retail into a tech-driven, omnichannel, personalised experience. The model enables airlines to offset high connectivity costs, and gives retail brands direct access to a premium audience in the air, while passengers can shop to their heart’s content, if they want to.

Tourvest unveils first phase of new UK retail fulfilment centre

Tourvest retail fulfilment centre Feltham

The UK facility aims to set a new standard for airline retail fulfilment.

Tourvest Retail & Catering has officially launched phase one of its new retail fulfilment centre in Feltham, UK, in line with its objective of setting a new benchmark for onboard retail logistics and e-commerce fulfilment in the airline industry.

The Feltham centre combines smart automation with agile processes to deliver efficient, reliable fulfilment. Supporting trolley packing, home delivery, e- commerce and drop-shipping, it enables airlines and suppliers to connect with customers quickly and accurately.

The facility has been designed to offer dynamic, accurate, and personalised service while future-proofing operations for years to come.

Key benefits include cost efficiency achieved through optimised operations and real-time data, alongside enhanced risk resilience. The new centre also offers advanced automated stock management, in addition to a commercial advantage gained through alignment with retail agreements that promote savings and growth.

“Today isn’t just about opening a new facility, it’s about setting a new standard for airline retail fulfilment,” noted Tourvest COO Paul Murphy. “Our Feltham Centre gives airlines the tools to improve customer experience, streamline onboard retail, and build towards the next generation of e-commerce and home delivery.”

London City Airport and BA raise £12,000 for Mind with Runway Run

London City Airport charity Runway Run Mind

Over 400 participants raced along the runway in support of mental health charity Mind.

On 11 October London City Airport partnered with British Airways to host a one-of-a-kind Runway Run. The event gave over 400 colleagues the opportunity to race along the airport’s runway in support of Mind, the national mental health charity.

Participants from both organisations took on distances ranging from 3km to 10km, raising awareness for mental health and generating £12,000 (US$16,000) for Mind.

The event coincided with World Mental Health Day, on 10 October. A family-friendly occasion, the run welcomed participants of all ages – the youngest was under six months old.

British Airways’ Wellbeing Ambassador, Joe Wicks, joined the event to lead the warm-up, meet colleagues, and cheer on participants as they set off down the runway.

Attendees included British Airways and London City Airport colleagues from across the businesses – including engineers, cabin crew, aircraft operations, and office-based teams – as well as members of the leadership team.

London City Airport CEO Alison FitzGerald commented: “We’re incredibly proud of our colleagues and partners for coming together to support Mind. The energy, generosity and team spirit on the day truly reflected our shared commitment to making a positive difference for mental health.”

London City Airport Runway Run for Mind with Joe Wicks

British Airways’ Wellbeing Ambassador, Joe Wicks, joined the event to lead the warm-up and inspire the runners.

British Airways Business Professional Apprentice Keira Gray, who helped organise the event, added: “I’m immensely proud of my fellow Business Professional Apprentices who came together to turn this ambitious fundraising idea into reality. Mental health affects us all, and seeing so many colleagues from across British Airways and London City Airport unite for this cause was truly moving.”

Mind provides information to people experiencing mental health problems and support via helplines and local support groups across England and Wales. The charity also raises awareness, fights stigma and campaigns for improved mental health services and rights.

Rudolph Lohmeyer at TFWA: ‘We are in a moment of profound disorder’

Lohmeyer: “The worst thing you can do is be passive and stand still.”

Given the theme of this year’s TFWA Conference, ‘Explore New Horizons, ’ the Monday keynote presentation from Rudolph Lohmeyer, Partner at management consultancy Kearney and head of its National Transformations Institute, was on point.

As a global thinker and former Senior Advisor for Long-Term Strategic Planning at the US Department of State, Lohmeyer provided a sobering and cerebral assessment of the current geopolitical and economic state of affairs.

“We’re in a moment of profound disorder… with headwinds and tailwinds colliding… and moments of intense pressure,” he said.

In a well-constructed address, Lohmeyer explored multiple factors affecting business, from trade and investment to statecraft – examining topics ranging from tariffs and increasingly security-driven government policies worldwide, to how alliances are fracturing along geopolitical lines, leading to fragmented markets.

Cyber attacks at airports across Europe and drone incursions into Poland, Denmark, and Lithuania have already heightened security concerns and are reshaping the global landscape. And for industries that have long relied on open, fair, cross-border movement – including travel retail – shifting tariff policies, as well as institutions themselves being deliberately disrupted, driven by actors including the US, are presenting new challenges.

While trade continues to grow, patterns are changing on geopolitical and inter-regional lines. This may not last forever, but it still needs to be navigated.

Inter-regional trade is slowing, and regional trade is deepening.

Not all doom and gloom

At the same time, Lohmeyer cited changes that were bringing positive outcomes. Breakthroughs in gene therapy have shown to slow Huntington’s disease significantly, and IBM and HSBC are offering empirical evidence for the potential value of current quantum computers for solving real-world problems in algorithmic bond trading.

In all the flux, Lohmeyer said that there are intense pressures to adapt at a critical juncture in global affairs. Not all of this is new. He said that shifts in alliance structures have been taking place since 2008 and that countries are not investing solely in specific relationships, but in overlays.

In this “messy” scenario, unexpected markets such as India, which straddle rival blocs that are increasingly separated from each other, could be a bridge in an era where brinkmanship might otherwise drive conflict cascades. Developing economies are also in a better position to ride out issues of replacement rate and falling births that plague advanced economies, which have the added burden of high costs of ageing populations.

Nevertheless, Lohmeyer said he was guardedly optimistic for three reasons. Despite the breakdown of institutional structures, around the world, including Africa, “we are seeing bold institutional innovation”.

Secondly, technological advances offer huge potential for transformation. “They could drive divergence, but if we can find ways to disseminate (those advances) and make them more widely available to empower individuals, even Africa would be finally in a position to deliver on its economic potential,” he said.

Passivity ‘a recipe for losing’

The third reason for optimism is that “we have always needed a breakdown of one institutional structure before building a new one”. And we are witnessing that right now.

“At this window in time, the worst thing you can do is be passive and stand still,” Lohmeyer said. “That is a recipe for losing and being left behind.”

He added: “It is a time for analytically grounded bold bets, understanding what you do and understanding where you can place a bet that could be decisive, calibrating it against your portfolio, and then taking action.”

Tourvest secures onboard retail services agreement with Virgin Atlantic

Tourvest Retail and Catering has announced a new partnership with Virgin Atlantic to deliver onboard duty free retail products and services. The agreement also includes warehousing and logistics operations, which will be managed from Tourvest’s newly launched Fulfilment Centre in Feltham.

Bethan Lynch, Vice President of Customer Journeys at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We’re excited to be teaming up with Tourvest to take our retail offering to the next level. Together we’ll bring fresh ideas and smarter ways of working to offer an elevated experience to our customers.”

Clive Jones, CEO of Tourvest Retail and Catering, added: “We are proud to be associated with the Virgin brand and excited by this journey we are about to embark upon together. This marks a significant milestone in Tourvest’s strategy, through the insourcing of the fulfilment component, together with the introduction of much-needed innovation in this area.”

This strategic collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to enhancing the onboard experience through innovation, efficiency, and customer-centric service.

EssilorLuxottica’s Alessio Crivelli elected to TFWA Board as VP Marketing

Alessio Crivelli, Global Travel Retail Director, EssilorLuxottica has been elected as Vice-President Marketing.

Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has named EssilorLuxottica Global Travel Retail Director Alessio Crivelli as Vice-President Marketing.

He was elected during the association’s management committee meeting on Friday 5 September and succeeds Hervé Ducros, Global Travel Retail Director at Chanel, who as reported stood down from his position on the Board.

Crivelli begins in post immediately, with his mandate running until the next election in October 2026.

A statement from the TFWA Board read: “We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Alessio Crivelli as our new Vice-President Marketing. Representing EssilorLuxottica, a company that is a worldwide leader in our industry, he brings a professional background uniquely suited to this role, with an outstanding track record in marketing across renowned brands including Adidas.

“His Italian heritage will enrich the diversity of our board, and his presence will give greater voice to a community that champions the premiumisation of our industry with distinction and style.”

Archives

Avolta and Air Canada form North America loyalty programme partnership

Immfly, Wizz Air and gateretail launch new integrated digital cabin ecosystem

Wizz Air rethinks the onboard experience

SKYdeals’ optimised inflight shopping platform moves beyond the cabin

Five years of inflight insights

Dnata expands Aer Lingus partnership with new onboard retail programme

Can InterLnkd revolutionise inflight retail with AirMall solution?

InterLnkd + Viasat = 60 airline options

Inflight vision

Tourvest unveils first phase of new UK retail fulfilment centre

London City Airport and BA raise £12,000 for Mind with Runway Run

Rudolph Lohmeyer at TFWA: ‘We are in a moment of profound disorder’

Not all doom and gloom

Passivity ‘a recipe for losing’

Tourvest secures onboard retail services agreement with Virgin Atlantic

EssilorLuxottica’s Alessio Crivelli elected to TFWA Board as VP Marketing

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