New Auckland scheme to boost arrivals shopping

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Auckland International airport has just introduced a world first - Arrivals Duty Free Priority Clearance - whereby passengers who make duty-free purchases on arrival at the airport are eligible to access priority Customs clearance.

International passengers arriving in Auckland who make a duty-free purchase from either DFS Galleria or Regency Duty Free are eligible to clear Customs in a dedicated area immediately adjacent to the duty-free shops. Once the formalities have been completed, passengers use a special escalator to go directly into the baggage hall. The effect is that these passengers bypass any process queuing in the Customs Hall.

"We are trying to encourage and reward passengers who show loyalty to our duty free retailers," said Auckland International Airport general manager commercial Murray Barclay. "We trialled this concept last summer and passengers who were processed in this manner found it most beneficial. Initially, the process is only available to New Zealand and Australian passport holders although we plan to expand the concept in time to include other airside stores and other passport holders."

This venture has been developed by Auckland International Airport  with the co-operation and assistance of the New Zealand Customs Service and the two duty-free operators.