CPB pre-clearance hours extended in Ireland

Jun 5, 2019 by Triton Staff

U.S. customs pre-clearance at Shannon Airport in Ireland will now be possible from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time as of June 1, after the director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance field office and the director of the Shannon Airport Authority signed a memorandum that extends the previous hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The memorandum also defines a cost-sharing agreement, and includes commitments from both parties toward future facility upgrades, according to a U.S. CBP press release.

The advance clearance service allows CBP officers to perform the same immigration, customs, and agriculture clearances typically done upon arrival in the U.S. before international travelers depart from certain foreign airports. Upon arriving in the U.S., travelers with pre-clearance may continue to their destination as though they had arrived on a domestic flight.

Andrew Murphy, managing director of the Shannon Airport Authority, seated left, and Clint Lamm, director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance field office, seated right, sign an agreement that extends pre-clearance hours at the airport. Standing, left to right, are Niall Maloney and Michael Balero. Photo provided/U.S. CBP

CBP has 15 air pre-clearance locations in Ireland, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the United Arab Emirates, as well as several locations in Canada.

In 1986, Shannon Airport became the first airport in Europe to offer U.S. pre-clearance services for commercial carriers. In 2010, the airport became the first in the world to offer full pre-clearance for private aircraft, and today remains the only airport in North America, Europe and the Middle East providing this unique service.

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