CBP expands Mobile Passport Control to nearly 40 GA facilities

General aviation travellers returning to the United States can now clear customs with a free app at airports U.S. Customs and Border Protection added last week. The agency expanded Mobile Passport Control to close to 40 general aviation facilities.

The app costs nothing to download or use. It suits people waiting on Global Entry approval, or those who fly internationally too rarely to justify $120 for a five-year Global Entry membership. Mobile Passport Control shortens customs waits, though it does not guarantee faster screening than Global Entry.

The app was previously accepted at 37 U.S. international airports, most of them major hubs, plus 15 preclearance sites, three departure locations and a small number of land border and sea ports of entry. The general aviation additions include facilities at Austin-Bergstrom, Dulles International, Harry Reid International, Los Angeles International and Miami International, among others on the published list.

Laura Everington, director of international operations and regulations at the National Business Aviation Association, said how much time will actually be saved on entry and clearance is not yet clear, because the process is new for the agency at general aviation airports. She called the change a positive move for both the agency and the industry.