Duty free spenders to earn speedy clearance

By KARYN SCHERER

Travellers who buy their duty free goods when arriving at Auckland Airport can now jump the queues in Customs.

In a move it claims is a world first, the Customs Service yesterday opened an "express clearance" facility next to the airport's two duty-free shops, allowing travellers buying goods on arrival to bypass the normal queues.

Though the publicly listed airport company admits the change is intended to encourage travellers to spend more, it also hopes it will relieve pressure on an increasingly burdened Customs Service.

Only Australian and New Zealand passport holders with a receipt from Regency Duty Free or DFS Galleria are able to use the new service.

Auckland Airport chief executive John Goulter said the company had chipped in for the new facility, with Customs and the duty-free stores.

Research had showed that travellers were reluctant to make purchases on arrival for fear of ending up at the back of queues.