Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said yesterday that customs services for both passengers and cargo would be on time, but his ministry had not yet approved the department's request for more staff.

"If we're using a high technology system, as Customs has said, I wonder why we need more personnel?" he said.

Customs is asking for 500 more workers to provide 24-hour clearance for importers and exporters and to take care of travellers.

The department will set up a one-stop centre for passengers bringing in merchandise with them. It has installed 20 X-ray machines for luggage inspection as well as closed-circuit televisions to monitor travellers.

The Airport Cargo Community System has been integrated into the customs clearance system, which is a paperless system.

Director-general Sathit Limponpan said customs clearance at the new airport could process three million tonnes of goods annually in the first phase and 6.4 million tonnes in the second phase.

Bangkok International Airport can handle only 1.02 million tonnes and its 24-hour customs clearance service is limited to exports.

The new airport will be a duty-free zone, meaning goods will be taxed only if they are moved out of the airport into the country.

The wider range of services at the new airport will raise service standards to meet global benchmarks as practised by leading airports, he said.

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation