Duty-free shops offer deep discounts to empty stocks

Chennai

With airport retails immediately closed after the lockdown was imposed in March, the foreign liquor hub at the Chennai airport, known as duty-free shops, now sells chocolates, other eatables at 90 per cent discount as their expiry dates are around the corner.

Two duty-free shops have been functioning at the International terminal of the city airport, where passengers can buy eatables and liquor after submitting their passport and boarding pass number. These shops were closed on March 25 soon after the nation-wide lockdown was announced. As special flights resumed their operations in the city, the shops were re-opened on May 15th.

Airport sources said a few international passengers, who were to be put under mandatory quarantine at the free stay camp, had hoarded liquor bottles from the shops and created ruckus after consuming liquor. Following such incidents, district officials had requested the airport officials to close the shop. Both the shops were closed during the second week of June.

With the eatables nearing its expiry date and as customers are hardly walking in, authorities have found a new way to sell the items, by opening a kiosk near the shop and trying to sell the items at discount. “Most of the passengers who arrive at the counter have returned without buying anything as liquor bottles are not available,” an official said, adding that this has forced them to sell all the eatables, including chocolates, at 90% discount.

However, sales staff claimed that passengers do not buy chocolates, other eatables as they are being sent to quarantine camps directly from the airport.

Passengers, on the other hand, said that liquor sales are prohibited only in Chennai airport and they are not interested in buying anything else. However, the airport officials said that alcohol will be sold only when flights resume regular operations.