A higher percentage of Russian travellers have helped boost The Nuance Group's liquor business at Turkey's Antalya airport this year .

Flight changes at the airport's Terminal 1 have resulted in fewer Dutch and German passengers passing through and an increase in higher-spending Russian travellers.

Swiss travel-retailer Nuance has run a joint venture with local operator Net Holding to operate the main departure and arrivals shops at the terminal since 1998.

"We've sold more Rémy Martin XIII Cognac at Antalya this year than we have in some of our Swiss airport stores," said Nuance category manager for liquor, tobacco and food, Europe, Pascal Delmotte. "It's all down to the increased number of Russian travellers."

The strong performance of Nuance's Antalya operation has helped increase the company's European liquor sales by almost 14 per cent .

Another strong liquor performer was the company's fledgling operation at Malta international airport, which has benefited from the recent opening of a new duty-paid, walk-through arrivals concept called SWIFT - Easy Shopping!

The showing from Malta and Antalya has helped offset more challenging locations such as Stockholm Arlanda and Amsterdam Schiphol , both affected by EU security restrictions on liquids .