Plans for US Customs post at Zaventem

Brussels Airport is one of nine airports chosen to take part in an expansion of the US Customs and Border Protection department’s Preclearance programme, CEO Arnaud Feist has confirmed.

The programme is already operational in Dublin and Shannon in Ireland, Aruba, Bermuda, Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas, eight cities in Canada, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The idea is to carry out customs and immigration checks on passengers flying direct to the US in the airport of departure, rather than on arrival.

The authorities say passengers save time by not having to go through immigration on landing or during transit to another US airport. Critics say it is also a means of making sure asylum-seekers are detected before they get to the US.

“This announcement by the American authorities is a recognition of the quality of infrastructure at Brussels Airport and the high security level of our operations,” Feist said. “Carrying out checks here will make the procedure simpler for passengers to the US.”

Travellers are unlikely to see any changes for some time. Talks have yet to be started on installing US customs and immigration at Zaventem, and the airport will first carry out a feasibility study. It’s estimated it could take two or three years before the system is up and running.

Photo courtesy 012maximus345/Wikimedia Commons