Shannon, Ireland — Elite travelers on their private jets will be now be able to “cross the US border” at Shannon airport following the extension yesterday of the airport’s US pre-clearance and customs and border protection facility to private aircraft.
According to a report in the Irish Times, the facility will allow passengers on US-bound private jets that have pre-cleared at Shannon to land in the US as domestic passengers.
The pre-clearance at Shannon for private jet travel is the only one of its type outside the Americas following an agreement between the US and Irish governments.
Interviewed by the Irish Times, Shannon Airport Authority board member Mark Nolan said: “Time after time in its history, Shannon airport has led the way internationally in aviation innovation and once again, here we are first in the field with an aviation winner of great significance to Shannon, Ireland and Europe . . . The facility provides a unique opportunity to develop substantial new private aircraft business”.
Formally opening the service, US ambassador Dan Rooney said: “Pre-clearance is a tremendous idea . . . It is going to be good for Shannon and the entire area.”
The new facilities will allow US government personnel carry out nuclear and radiation screening of passengers and items.
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Chief executive of the European Business Aviation Association Brian Humphreys welcomed the work “to create a new US border at Shannon airport”.
However, Dr Vincent Cunnane, the chief executive of Shannon Development and a Shannon Airport Authority board member, said there was a need for additional marketing funds to promote Shannon’s new customs facility for private jet travel.
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