Uniqlo BGC reopens

Uniqlo’s 82nd store in the Philippines, located at BGC High Street, reopens today, Nov. 7, as a local flagship lifestyle hub in Metro Manila with a reimagined new store that brings together LifeWear, creativity and community.

Not exactly a business story that focuses on income, profit or investments for a business column, but fashion is a big global business and Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. has an established track record of profitability based on its concept of bringing high-quality, functional and sustainable everyday clothing to its customers.

As a consumer, Uniqlo – for me – has been one of the best value for your money brand that surprisingly cuts across all economic demographics, and provides quality clothing that (if properly taken cared of) can last sustainably long.

It was interesting to learn from Ms. Geraldine Sia, chief operating officer of Uniqlo Philippines, about the company’s sustainability program of recycling and donation/contribution to low-income organizations during the pre-opening activities Wednesday at the refurbished BGC store.

Although all of Uniqlo’s clothes are manufactured in Japan, Ms. Sia talked about the group’s recycling and sustainability efforts, which uses retazos or leftover materials from customers who have their new purchases cut or resized.

The excess materials, she explained, are collected and donated to low-income communities who use the fabrics to create new items that they can sell and earn income from.

Uniqlo, likewise, has put up donation/collection boxes for customers who may want to donate some of their pre-loved clothes which Uniqlo also donates/contributes to poor communities.

Even with its paper bag policy, Ms. Sia said Uniqlo’s P2 charge per bag is actually donated to Haribon Foundation. She, however, did not quantify how much Uniqlo Philippines has contributed.

The BGC branch now sports a refreshed façade, with a giant LED display, and exclusive in-store experiences like UTme! and the RE.UNIQLO Studio – spaces that encourage creativity, personalization and sustainability.

As part of its community involvement, the BGC branch is collaborating with Cats of BGC and BGC-based artists for its UTme! t-shirts, capturing the district’s dynamic lifestyle and creative energy.

The reopening of Uniqlo BGC is perfectly timed for those planning to go on holiday to cold climate destinations as their new fourth floor has an almost complete collection of autumn/fall and winter essentials, particularly the much needed HeatTech products to survive the cold weather abroad.

Global passenger trends

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released the results of its 2025 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), highlighting two key trends that are redefining the passenger travel experience. These two trends are: mobile reliance is increasing and biometric adoption is accelerating.

According to IATA, “Passengers want to manage their travel the same way they manage many other aspects of their lives – on their smartphones and using digital ID. As experience grows with digital processes from booking to baggage claim, the message that travelers are sending in this year’s GPS is clear: they like it, and they want more of it.”

However, IATA stressed the need to continue building trust, so cybersecurity remains a priority. Booking and payment habits, the IATA survey showed, are shifting toward mobile channels. Over half of travelers (54 percent) want to deal directly with airlines, and they are doing that increasingly with mobile apps. Airline websites remained the most popular booking preference at 31 percent, but this was down from 37 percent in 2024. This year, web apps were the preferred choice for 19 percent of travelers, trending upwards from the 16 percent in 2024.

This mobile shift, IATA observed, was led by younger travelers (25 percent), which is an indication that the trend of shifting to mobile options is likely to strengthen over time.

Payment preferences, IATA added, are also evolving. While credit and debit cards remain dominant (72 percent), this marks a significant drop from 2024 (79 percent). Digital wallet use has increased significantly (from 20 percent in 2024 to 28 percent in 2025), and instant payment methods, such as IATA Pay, have also grown (from six percent in 2024 to eight percent this year).

Passengers, the survey showed, want their smartphones to do more for them: 78 percent of passengers want to use a smartphone that combines a digital wallet, digital passport and loyalty cards to book, pay and navigate airport processes. Use of electronic bag tags is also on the rise, increasing from 28 percent in 2024 to 35 percent in 2025, allowing passengers to generate their bag tags directly from a mobile device during check-in.

The use of biometrics at airports, IATA reported, is expanding, and passenger satisfaction with biometrics has reached its highest level yet, with half of passengers using biometrics at some point in their airport journey, up from 46 percent in 2024. Privacy, however, IATA admits, remains a concern, but there is room to build trust, 42 percent of passengers who are currently unwilling to share their biometric info saying they would reconsider if data privacy was assured.

The IATA passenger survey showed that Asia-Pacific travelers are the most digitally savvy, with the highest overall satisfaction levels among global travelers. They lead in using mobile apps and digital wallets to book and pay for travel, and are the least likely to use credit cards. They are also among the most frequent users of biometrics, though their satisfaction with these experiences is the lowest. This tech-forward group expects ever faster and more seamless journeys.

By gender, male travelers are typically more enthusiastic adopters of digital tools, adopting airline apps more quickly than women. They show above-average interest in smartphone-only journeys. They also use biometrics slightly more across travel processes. Female travelers are somewhat more cautious adopters of digital travel solutions, but are steadily increasing their use of airline apps in line with broader trends. They are more likely to consider airline reputation and past experiences when making decisions, showing a stronger preference for reliability and trust.

Younger travelers are the most proactive in using technology to enhance their journeys, but want stronger assurances on privacy and security. They are far more likely to book flights through apps than older age groups, who still rely on websites. They also show higher preference for digital wallets and biometrics over traditional documents. Despite their digital readiness, they are the hardest group to satisfy, with fewer reporting high satisfaction with their journeys.