Malaysia Airports recognised for airport retail innovation at Retail Asia Awards 2026

The company redefined airport retail through curated concept stores, upgraded duty-free malls, and digital checkouts.

Malaysia Airports received accolades in the Concept Store of the Year - Malaysia and Travel Retailer of the Year - Malaysia categories at the Retail Asia Awards 2026 for two retail initiatives across its international airports: the revamped Eraman Duty Free stores and the Sense of Malaysia retail platform. Both entries addressed common airport retail challenges, including limited dwell time, traveller fatigue, generic product assortments, and the need for clearer store navigation.

Local products at the centre of airport retail

Sense of Malaysia was developed as a destination-themed retail concept that brought Malaysian craft, food, wellness products, and souvenirs into the airport shopping journey. The platform operated across five international airports: KL International Airport (KLIA), Penang International Airport (PEN), Langkawi International Airport (LGK), Kuching International Airport (KCH), and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). Its product range included hand-drawn batik, woven songket, Sarawak Laksa paste, Penang egg tarts, and items from local artisans and entrepreneurs.

The concept also gave more than 50 Malaysian brands access to travel retail distribution, including Oriental Kopi, Kapten Batik, Serai, Royal Selangor, and Borneo Pearls. Malaysia Airports used the platform to connect local businesses with international passengers, whilst placing Malaysian products alongside global names such as LEGO, Laderach, Charlotte Tilbury, WHSmith, and Rituals Cosmetics.

Store features included artisanal demonstrations and a postcard service that allowed travellers to send personalised photo memories. The company reported a 28.8% year-on-year increase in total sales transactions to 44 million in 2025, whilst Gifts & Souvenirs sales rose 42%.

Faster, clearer duty-free shopping

Eraman Duty Free refurbished its retail stores across KLIA Terminal 1, KLIA Terminal 2. The upgraded outlets introduced new layouts, stronger visual merchandising, and a curated selection of more than 550 global brands.

At KLIA Terminal 2 International Departure / Arrival, the redesigned Duty-Free Mall used open layouts, intuitive zoning, and clear sightlines to help passengers shop more quickly. Self-checkout kiosks were also introduced to reduce queues and speed up transactions during peak periods. The refreshed retail mix covered luxury beauty, fragrances, gourmet chocolates, wines, and spirits, giving travellers a more organised duty-free experience within a high-volume airport setting.

The Retail Asia Awards highlights the pinnacle of excellence, innovation, and leadership within the retail industry across the Asia Pacific region. It serves as a benchmark of success, honouring companies and individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future of retail.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Marni Marco at [email protected].