Coming home to the Antipodes

by Martin Moodie |
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Martin Moodie

Martin Moodie is the Founder & Chairman of The Moodie Report.

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This Blog is being written at 30,000 feet as I fly on a Qantas A380 over the vast interior of Australia.

As I write, the flight map says we’re passing a town called Milparinka (population 55 according to the 2006 census), meaning that we’ve just entered New South Wales airspace and we’re around 90 minutes out of Sydney.

It’s the third airline’s A380 I’ve flown (after Emirates and Singapore Airlines) and it’s really impressive. Today I’m flying Premium Economy, which in terms of leg room makes the British Airways equivalent look distinctly substandard.

The inflight duty free offer is well promoted via the inflight entertainment system (and a good brochure) and the staff have that great Aussie laid-back yet hospitable attitude that few countries can match.

I’ve left the TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore early to come down to the New South Wales capital to report on the new-look International Terminal at Sydney Airport. The Moodie Report is proud to have been asked to produce a special book portraying what is said to be a stunning, eclectic commercial mix at the terminal.

Over the next two days I’ll be making Sydney Airport my home from home, interviewing Sydney Airport General Manager, Retail Derek Larsen and many of the retailers and food & beverage at the airport. It’s an exciting project – visiting new terminals and stores is my favourite part of the job – and I know I’m in for something special.

After Sydney, it’s a fleeting one-day visit across the Tasman on Saturday to Christchurch, New Zealand, my home-town that I have not seen for many years – way too long, in fact. Then it’s up to Auckland Airport for another reputedly impressive retail development – the opening of new departures stores for both DFS and James Richardson Duty Free.

I can promise you something pretty exciting there too. There’s plenty going on in the Antipodes alright and I’m delighted to be coming home to tell you about it.