Manchester Airport shortlisted for US pre-clearance status

A year since the start of the process, Manchester Airport has been shortlisted by the US Department of Homeland Security as a priority airport to host US security pre-clearance.

US pre-clearance, which allows passengers to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection by US Customs and Border Protection before boarding their flight, means that passengers can avoid waiting in often lengthy queues upon their arrival in the USA.

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.

“It is pleasing to see we are on the priority list of airports, as a service like this has the potential to enhance the customer experience for passengers travelling to the US from the UK.

“It will potentially make Manchester more attractive to airlines looking to start routes from the US into the UK.

“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, meaning that Manchester could be one of the first to offer this positive and beneficial service for passengers travelling from or through the UK.

Airlines that currently fly to the US from Manchester include Delta, American, United, Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic and Thomson.