Chennault International Airport in the US has now secured foreign clearance for aircraft as it seeks to generate air cargo business.
The airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana has established procedures with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enabling 24/7/365 clearance of select international aircraft at the growing airport.
The agreement with CBP allows for the clearance into the US of foreign aircraft, crews, and air cargo utilising the existing CBP Lake Charles Port of Entry, said the airport.
Foreign air cargo flights as well as maintenance-bound aircraft and crews may now enter the US at Chennault.
Chennault said it will facilitate international clearances with US Customs on behalf of industry partners as part of its commitment to grow business.
US Customs has agreed to respond accordingly and permit applicable international arrivals using its existing local resources.
The clearance progresses the airport’s signing of a memorandum of understanding with US Customs and Border Protection in October last year to enable regular clearance of select international aircraft.
“We are delighted to formalize this relationship with US Customs to ensure foreign clearance capabilities,” said Chennault executive director Kevin Melton.
“Our Gulf Coast location is an ideal airport for aircraft from Latin America to enter the United States and we are now able to clear those aircraft here.”
Chennault also completed a $4m air cargo facility in September last year.
The new cargo building can be separately certified by CBP to receive international cargo. Melton said Chennault is ready to work closely with customers to efficiently enable certification of the facility and “has anticipated the need for and will assist the industry with fencing, data, security, and other measures necessary for our new facility to receive international cargo.”
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