Tui is poised to introduce pre-order duty-free for passengers on Thomson Airways following a deal with Gate Retail Onboard to service all its airlines.
Customers will be able to order duty-free items from home prior to departing on holiday and have the goods delivered to their aircraft seat.
They will also be able to place orders on the flight out for collection on their return flight from holiday.
The service is already provided in the Nordic markets and will be introduced in the UK and Ireland from October before being rolled out to Tui’s other airlines.
It’s extension follows an agreement with Gate Group to have Gate Retail Onboard as sole supplier to Tui’s five carriers.
The five-year deal includes on-board sales of food and drink as well as duty-free and pre-order sales.
Tui says passengers will enjoy a broader range of food and drink and duty-free items at more competitive prices.
Thomson Airways will move to Gate Retail from March 1.
The move follows Thomas Cook’s announcement in December of a trial of a pre-order duty-free service in the UK.
The Thomas Cook pre-order service is also an extension of a service available for many years in the Nordic markets.