Fears that the new EC regulations could decimate the duty-free industry led the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) to battle the EC for rules that would make travel safer while not crushing their business. What they got will actually increase their profits.

An alleged terrorist plot to use liquid bombs to blow up planes at London's Heathrow Airport in August led to a temporary ban on liquids and gels aboard planes in the Czech Republic and several other European countries. Duty-free shops lost $26 billion (568 billion Kč) during that time — half their normal revenue.

Since Nov. 6, passengers buying liquids, gels and pastes have had to seal their purchases in transparent plastic bags. The new measures will not restrict airport shopping after passengers are through passport control and will standardize rules at airports within the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

Airport retailers throughout Europe anxiously awaited the new EC regulations, fearing that they could bring about a major decline in profits.

"We are afraid that the regulations would will our sales," Kryštof Kmoch, head of Unimex's duty-free shops at Ruzyně, said days before the EC ruling.

Now, representatives of shops said they expect the regulations to boost their beverage sales.

"We do expect an increase in sales of bottled water," said Daniela Hupáková, spokeswoman for Czech Airlines (ČSA), which operates duty-free shops at Ruzyně. She insisted that ČSA does not intend to take advantage of the situation by increasing prices.

Foley said that the rules would not coerce unsuspecting passengers into becoming unwilling customers.

"I think it is wrong to suggest that passengers will now be forced to shop at airport retail outlets," he said.

Lucrative business

Even before the new regulations, stores at Ruzyně were attractive business opportunities for retailers.

In early October, airport management selected new retailers to rent commercial spaces within the airport, doing away with controversial rental contracts in which some store operators paid nothing for space within the airport.

Five companies emerged victorious from the tender in which 23 companies took part. Rental prices at the airport are now on par with rents paid by retailers in downtown Prague.

The airport itself stands to benefit from the increased business of its stores. Apart from rent, retailers at the airport must give 5 percent to 7 percent of their revenue to airport management.