Best buys in the sky

Official airline merchandise, electronics and perfumes are popular among travellers

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It is the traveller’s guilty pleasure: flipping through an in-flight shopping catalogue or scrolling through an airline’s online shop, only to suddenly be convinced that a model aircraft or limited-edition mug is a must-buy.

Perhaps not all end up spending money. But according to an August report by Paris-headquartered travel service solutions company Moment, passengers currently fork out an average of US$90 (S$116) on in-flight ancillary services, such as seat selection, WiFi packages, food and shopping. Spending is projected to grow to US$120 a passenger by 2030.

The same report found that the in-flight retail market was valued at US$3.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to more than US$5 billion by 2030.

It also revealed that the bestselling in-flight product category is official airline merchandise, followed by electronics, spirits and perfumes.

MORE THAN A COLLECTIBLE

Few people understand the pull of airline merchandise better than Dr Ong Pang Yeow, 53, who has amassed more than 2,500 Singapore Airlines (SIA) items since he was around seven years old. His collection includes T-shirts, soft toys, lanyards, plaques and plane models.

Some were legacy items passed down from his father, a former SIA employee, while others came from staff sales, gifts from friends and family, or were bought over the years. Some of his collectibles have increased in value and are no longer in production by the airline, he says.

But for Dr Ong, the collection holds more than monetary value — each piece has meaning. He especially cherishes his SIA tableware collection, acquired over decades as the airline changed its premium class offerings.

“When I was younger, I used these on flights with my parents. They are reminders of the good old times,” he says, adding that he has no interest in selling the items despite frequent suggestions from others.