Shilla Duty Free has struck a landmark agreement to open the world’s first Louis Vuitton airport store, at Incheon International Airport.

The luxury brand has traditionally rejected the airport retailing channel – though it is present in downtown travel retail through selected Gallerias run by fellow LVMH subsidiary DFS, and through high-class Korean retailers such as Shilla and Lotte.

Shilla said: “Louis Vuitton’s opening of a store in Incheon International Airport is being considered as a monumental achievement in the global tourism industry.

Over the years leading airports had proposed to Louis Vuitton to open a store, but the brand has rejected all proposals up to now.”

Shilla said that the agreement followed a visit by LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault to Incheon Airport and its acclaimed ‘Airstar Avenue’ retail complex in April this year.

“It is said that Louis Vuitton started reviewing the opening of an airport store at Incheon International Airport favorably after he [Arnault] witnessed the airport’s long-term potential for growth as well as for becoming a hub in Northeastern Asia covering Korea, China and Japan,” the company commented.

Source: Moodiereport