Duty-Free Liquor Shop At Delhi Airport Sees Sharp Drop In Sales Amid Shortage, Staff Woes
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The liquor outlet, operated by the Delhi Consumer Co-operative Wholesale Store Limited (DCCWS), has become the centre of concern for airport authorities.
Once considered a glittering attraction for travellers passing through the country's busiest airport, the iconic liquor shop at Terminal 3 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is now grappling with an uncharacteristic lull. With dwindling sales, persistent stock shortages, and a staff crunch, what was once a vibrant, round-the-clock destination for premium spirits has fallen into a phase of quiet decline.
The liquor outlet, operated by the Delhi Consumer Co-operative Wholesale Store Limited (DCCWS), has become the centre of concern for airport authorities. A recent internal email from the airport management to DCCWS reportedly expressed sharp dissatisfaction over operational lapses that have plagued the shop for the past two months. The biggest blow, according to sources, has been the recurring shortage of stock – with liquor bottles of renowned global brands often missing from shelves, leaving customers frustrated and empty-handed.
'Sales have nosedived, and we've been struggling to maintain even basic inventory," said a source familiar with the matter. This slump is evident in the numbers: the shop's average daily sales dropped from Rs 3.04 lakh in January to just Rs 2.20 lakh by May. A brief resurgence in March, when sales spiked to Rs 3.52 lakh, has not been sustained, pointing to deeper operational issues.
Further compounding the crisis is a critical shortage of staff due to delays in renewing Airport Entry Passes (AEPs). The failure to process employee passes on time has meant that fewer workers are available to run daily operations – an issue so severe that the shop was forced to shut its doors entirely for several days earlier this month. A notice posted outside the store during that period attributed the closure directly to the lack of valid staff entry passes, drawing murmurs of concern from travellers and frequent flyers alike.
An official from the Excise Department confirmed that while the issue surrounding the AEPs has since been addressed, the overall health of the outlet remains fragile. 'There's still a long way to go before we're back to normal," the official said.
This liquor store, unique for its 24×7 availability and access to both domestic and international travellers, occupies a premium spot in Terminal 3 – a hub for some of the world's most frequented international flight routes. Not only does it offer duty-free-like pricing, but its curated selection of high-end spirits has historically made it a sought-after stop for many passengers.
Its reputation took a temporary hit when the shop was shuttered during a CBI probe following the cancellation of Delhi's 2021–22 liquor policy. After reopening last year, it seemed poised for a revival. But now, the same outlet finds itself in jeopardy once again – not from legal scrutiny, but from logistical mismanagement.
With summer travel peaking and footfall at Delhi Airport returning to pre-pandemic levels, airport authorities have urged DCCWS to act swiftly. 'The shop has the potential to be a star attraction again, but only if the basic issues of supply and staffing are resolved without further delay," one official noted.
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First Published:
May 20, 2025, 17:13 IST
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