American And U.S. Customs And Border Protection Pilot Innovative Baggage Screening Initiative

American Customs Revolutionizes Baggage Screening

American Airlines has revealed a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to introduce an innovative program to offer a smoother and improved customer experience for international travellers, all while ensuring top-notch security. This initiative, along with the recently launched One Stop Security in February, reflects American’s commitment to transforming the international travel experience for its customers.

With International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), travelers arriving in the U.S. from specific international airports will no longer need to retrieve their checked luggage in the CBP Customs Hall and recheck it with American Airlines for their next flight. Instead, after passing through CBP Passport Control, passengers will go directly to a TSA checkpoint and continue to their connecting flight. This initiative aims to reduce connection times and enhance the overall travel experience. IRBS utilizes advanced technology to modernize the baggage screening process, allowing it to occur remotely, without altering the existing screening requirements.

American Airlines, CBP, and the Sydney Airport Authority are set to launch a pilot program for the airline’s daily flight from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). American Airlines and CBP expect this new procedure to be implemented in more cities.

“We are excited to collaborate with CBP on this innovative initiative,” said Gary Tomasulo, Vice President of Global Corporate Security at American. 

“By leveraging advanced technology and working with Sydney Airport and our vendor partners BagCheck and Brock Solutions, we are enhancing safety and security while streamlining the CBP baggage inspection process to make global travel smoother and more convenient for our customers.”

“As part of our innovation efforts in air travel, CBP is leveraging technology to enhance baggage inspections to further secure and streamline travel,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Diane J. Sabatino.

“The International Remote Baggage Screening initiative is a significant step forward in modernizing our processes and providing a secure and seamless experience for international travellers.”

Graham White, Head of Security at Sydney Airport, said, “It’s fantastic to support American Airlines and CBP on this initiative, which represents a significant, positive shift in terms of the experience for passengers transiting through U.S. ports. Our top priorities are safety, efficiency and service, and through this collaboration we can achieve all three. We look forward to successfully launching this pilot which is a great example of how technology can modernize and streamline customs and border processing.”

This initiative is a key element of CBP’s comprehensive Airport Modernization Plan, designed to enhance security and improve traveller experiences using technology at U.S. Federal Inspection Stations (FIS). It marks an essential step in CBP’s commitment to bolster national security while ensuring smooth travel for U.S. citizens, trusted travellers, and international guests.