The USA now has its first ever airside Centralized Examination Station (CES). Thanks to collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Dallas Airport (DFW), and dnata Cargo USA, shipments landing in DFW can be dealt with more quickly, efficiently, and safely. A particularly necessary gain given the huge influx of e-commerce. While 2020 saw some 16,000 international e-commerce clearances at DFW, this grew to 20 million packages in 2023, and has already exceeded 23 million packages in just the first half of this year. A CBP Centralized Examination Station with direct access to an Airport Air Operations Area (AOA) enables the direct transfer of cargo from airplanes to the CBP inspection facility, instead of first having to take them off airport for inspection – a time-consuming, costly and potentially risky process that happens elsewhere. “While the vast majority of importers follow U.S. laws and regulations, transnational criminal organizations constantly attempt to circumvent the system by hiding their contraband under the massive flow of legitimate shipments. CBP now has another resource to address the challenges faced in the de minimis environment, helping CBP better protect the American people,” the press release reads. The CES is also equipped with the latest non-intrusive inspection technology to further expedite cargo exams, streamlining the overall package clearance process at DFW.
CBP Dallas Area Port Director, Jayson Ahern, said: “We are better suited to process legitimate cargo while protecting American business and consumers by intercepting illicit and possibly unsafe goods. This is at the core of CBP’s mission. By expediting the commercial flow of legitimate goods, this innovative Centralized Examination Station has proven to be an economic stimulus to the region. CBP has assigned officers, agriculture specialists, and supervisors to this facility since its inception, we have seen greater speed and efficiency in clearing cross-border e-commerce and imports targeted for inspection. For the American consumer, it means their products make it to their doorstep faster and safer. This CES will serve as a model for future port efforts throughout the United States. Together with our DFW and dnata Cargo USA partners, we’re proud to be on the front end of this innovative effort.”
Chris McLaughlin, DFW’s Executive Vice President Operations, said: “The CES is a key part of supporting DFW Airport’s rapid growth of international e-commerce package clearances. We’re just beginning to tap into our immense business potential in cargo, thanks to our location in the center of the country, coupled with our extensive air service network. We thank our partners at CBP for choosing DFW as the first airport in the nation to lean into this new operating model.”
