READ MORE: New rules will end 'surprise' rip-off baggage fees - but airlines could hit holidaymakers with 'inflated' ticket prices See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER Published: 13:02 BST, 18 June 2026 | Updated: 13:14 BST, 18 June 2026
British holidaymakers hoping to top up on their favourite items at duty free this summer could be left empty-handed, an expert has warned.Molly Monks, insolvency specialist at Parker Walsh, says a combination of falling sales and a dip in international travel means duty-free stores are stocking less.In some cases, they are even re-evaluating the value of airport retail.It comes as stationery chain WH Smith last week warned of a slash in its annual profit outlook following concerns over jet fuel prices and flight cancellations earlier this year, which led to reduced footfall in airports across the globe.'Retailers are beginning to sound the alarm when it comes to duty free and airport shopping,' Molly said.'As the cost of living bites, even those who can afford a holiday abroad are watching what they spend and the impulse to splurge at the airport is one of the first things to go.'On top of that, ongoing concerns around fuel prices and flight disruption mean fewer Brits are heading to the airport this summer full stop, which is hitting businesses operating in terminals hard.' An expert has warned duty free stores are stocking less productsAnd the figures back this up, too. WH Smith said revenues at its airport operations have been falling 2 per cent year on year in the seven weeks to 6 June, The Guardian reported.And reports from earlier this year showed that the slump in air travel caused by the US/Israel-Iran conflict has seen sales drop for luxury brands. Companies that operate in the $74 billion (£56 billion) travel retail industry have been shifting inventories and temporarily closing airport stores in the Middle East region. A return to normality for luxury airport shops may take time, analysts said.For those who do make it through departures, Molly warns that savings could have shrunk since they were last jet-setting abroad.With retailers already under pressure from rising costs and weaker footfall, businesses have less room to absorb the tax savings and pass them on to shoppers, meaning previously so-called 'bargain' products may no longer be cheaper than at home.For travellers planning to grab their favourite perfume at a discount, or bank on picking up forgotten sun cream or a must-have makeup product before boarding, it might not be as straightforward as it once was.It's not just about empty shelves either.Molly has warned the financial pressure on airport retailers has deeper consequences.'With sales falling, retailers simply can't justify holding the same levels of stock they once did. What was once considered a shoppers' paradise is under real strain and the current economic climate could change it beyond recognition,' she said.She added that if the situation doesn't improve, airports themselves could begin stripping back their retail offering.'If it continues to become financially unviable for businesses to operate in these spaces, we could start to see more units sitting empty,' she said. 'Airports may have no choice but to slim down what's on offer.'So for anyone jetting off this summer, Molly's advice is clear - don't leave your shopping to the last minute at the airport. Stock up before you go, compare prices online in advance, and treat anything you find airside as a bonus rather than a given.
