Sydney International Airport is in the final stages of the revamp of the overseas departure area's retail precinct which boasts as many luxury brands as Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
It comes as transit hubs are the fastest growing "new" retail frontier.
Operators and retailers across the world are revamping the terminals at a time when more people are staying longer in the lounges.
The increased security required to enter an airport means travellers are arriving a lot earlier for flights and are happy to shop to pass the time.
It is one of the last pieces of the improvement at Sydney Airport, which is run by the ASX-listed Sydney Airport.
As the $3 billion-plus renovations proceed across all the terminals, air side and land side, major brands are lining up for a presence and willing to pay some of the highest rents per square metre in the country.
US giant Victoria Secret's first Australian outlet was at Sydney's T1, as was the Gap. Both brands have now leased sites in malls across the country
Under the plans, upmarket jeweller Tiffany & Co has joined the ranks of the international brands with Gucci coming in early 2017.
The general manager retail at Sydney Airport, Glyn Williams, has supervised the upgrade, which also includes a new food court with Wolfgang Puck's eatery and a range of other big- name restaurants.
There is also the new and expanded Heinemann duty free store, which offers a wide range of products that could surpass any shopping centre.
He said one myth being disbanded is the high cost of food and drinks inside the terminal.
"Competitive pricing is something we feel really passionate about at Sydney Airport, and we're offering an extensive depth and breadth of products across a range of price points to suit all budgets," Mr Williams said.
"We work closely with our retail partners to deliver strong value to passengers. For example, Heinemann Tax & Duty Free offers savings across liquor, perfume and cosmetics, with prices about 20-30 per cent cheaper than downtown Sydney," Mr Williams said.
"Our coffee and bottled water prices are comparable to, if not cheaper than, downtown Sydney. The average price of coffee at Sydney Airport is $4 and bottled water is $3.50.
Mr Williams said the upgrade was designed to cater to the expectations of "our customers and addressing the needs of the modern traveller who seeks more from their airport experience",
Westfield is also focusing on its airport hubs, such as its large mall-like centre at Los Angeles' Tom Bradley terminal.
According to JLL, a wide variety of retailers are finding that snapping up units in city centre train and airport terminals are a way to attract today's time-poor, convenience-seeking shoppers.
Jonathan Bayfield, senior research analyst at JLL, says: "Retailers and food and beverage operators have started to appreciate that they have a captive audience in very high footfall locations. The volume of people alone is generating significant sales."
He said while many people are dashing to catch their trains, others are in less of an immediate rush.
"If you can do your clothes or food shopping on the way home, that's a more efficient use of time. And train stations, because people travel through them, are well located to fit this consumer requirement," he said.
