Abu Dhabi Airports recently inaugurated the new US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility at Zayed International Airport (AUH). The official ceremony was attended by Elena Sorlini, managing director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports; Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE; Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways; and Judson Murdock, CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner.
The pre-clearance facility, the only one of its kind in the Middle East and Asia, underlines the prominence of Abu Dhabi as a global travel hub. In collaboration with the US Customs and Border Protection, Etihad Airways, and Etihad Airport Services, the facility allows all Etihad Airways flights to the United States to pre-clear US immigration in Abu Dhabi, arriving stateside as domestic passengers, avoiding queues and saving time.
Etihad currently flies 35 times per week to four US gateways including Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC.
Read: US customs pre-clearance facility moves to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport
What is pre-clearance?
The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance is the strategic stationing of CBP personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights. With preclearance, travelers then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.
The CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 preclearance locations in six countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the UAE; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.
Benefits of pre-clearance
Travelers who have been through pre-clearance can skip CBP and TSA inspection lines upon arrival in the U.S. and proceed directly to a connecting flight or final destination.
Domestic connections also become easier for them. They are able to enjoy tighter connection windows at U.S. airports and are less likely to miss a domestic connection.
For airlines, benefits include access to less expensive U.S. domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at airports in the U.S. It also allows them to establish new routes to desirable U.S. destinations that meet growing traveler demand.
Biometric technology for greater security
Etihad has introduced biometric facial scanners at its boarding gates for a seamless, quicker boarding experience for passengers flying between Abu Dhabi and the U.S.
A completely touchless experience, passengers won’t need to present their passport or boarding pass. When they see the green light, they are good to head on to the plane. This facility is available at boarding gates in Abu Dhabi and New York.
Passengers are advised to use the free CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app before they fly from Abu Dhabi and breeze through customs.
It helps save the time and hassle of paper forms, and passengers can submit all required documents and information in minutes from their phone.
MPC allows eligible travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device. The use of MPC streamlines the traveler’s entry process into the U.S. by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time. Use of MPC does not require pre-approval. Travelers who successfully use the MPC app no longer have to complete a paper form and may be provided a designated queue. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and efficient processing.
