Originally Posted by
Justapax1
Duty-free on arrival actually makes more sense than duty-free in departures or in the aircraft. That way, the plane doesn't have to carry all that duty-free booze and fags in the overhead lockers. Keflavik had been doing it for decades, and I understand the biggest duty-free on arrival shop is in Oslo.
Duty-free on arrival isn't allowed in the EU. The UK has left the EU. Why not follow Iceland's and Norway's example? Just swap over the arrivals and departure terminals, so you don't have to run the gauntlet of all those shops when you're running for your plane. It would also mean fewer delayed flights, where the cause of the delay is the pax turning up for boarding late because they've been shopping in duty-free, and consequently having their luggage unloaded.
When you've landed, you have more time on your hands as you're less likely to be concerned about making your onward transport on time. And you won't be delaying a flight.
Something I forgot is that, although you're not supposed to open your duty-free in-flight, some people do. Then you get people excessively drunk on aeroplanes (of course being slightly drunk in F or C is acceptable) and planes diverting, people vomiting, and other nasties. This wouldn't happen with duty-free on arrival.
Many large UK airports have a "mini" duty free area just as you leave customs and before you go out through the doors into landside.