Duty free dropped by airline

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has become the latest carrier to announce plans to remove inflight duty free sales, as part of a target to cut emissions by 25% by 2030.

The decision follows a similar move by KLM earlier this year. In a statement, SAS said: “Tax-free sales have long been a popular service onboard our flights amongst passengers who have used it, but our passengers’ buying behaviour has changed and sustainability has become more important than ever before – for both our passengers and SAS.

“Withdrawing tax-free sales will reduce the overall weight of the aircraft, which in turn will reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Instead, SAS will develop solutions to offer passengers more modern ways of buying and receiving goods in connection with their journey.”  Inflight ordering and collection at the other end is one possibility, with the cabin staff still making commission.

SAS says this is part of a wider effort by the airline to improve sustainability, and while the airline is conscious of the loss of ancillary sales, it will have weighed this against the fuel cost savings of not having to carry duty free items, many of which remain unsold at the end of the flight.

The carrier says inflight duty free sales will cease this autumn.

www.flysas.com

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Michael Preston, Weybridge/Cape Town

Good. DF sales are total nonsense, both during and pre-flight. A waste of time, space, effort, and fuel. They should be banned totally or restricted to 'on arrival' only. I particularly dislike the current practice of so many airports of forcing one to walk through the snaking maze of stinking perfumes and overpriced tat on the way to the boarding gate. The space should be used for passenger comfort, but of course that doesn't boost profits so it's a non-starter.