Manchester Airport gets US security pre-clearance go-ahead

Manchester airport

Manchester Airport has been shortlisted as an airport to host US security pre-clearance.

US security pre-clearance allows passengers to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents before boarding their flight.

It means that passengers can avoid waiting in lengthy queues upon their arrival in the US. International flights which have been pre-cleared can use domestic terminals at US airports, meaning passengers from those flights connecting onto onward domestic flights can do so with significantly shorter transfer times than passengers who have not been pre-cleared.

Ken O’Toole, Managing Director of Manchester Airport said: “We have been in discussion with the US Department of Homeland Security for some time about securing pre-clearance   at Manchester Airport for passengers travelling to the United States.

“We look forward to working with both the UK and the US Governments in the coming months to ensure that Manchester remains a priority and is granted pre-clearance status.”

Only two other airports in Europe currently allow for pre-clearance, with none offering it in the UK.

Airlines that currently fly to the USA from Manchester include Delta, American, United, Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic and Thomson with more than 1.3 million currently making the transatlantic journey each year.

See www.manchesterairport.co.uk