DALLAS — The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) became the first airport in the United States to operate a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Centralized Examination Station (CES) located on the secure side of an airport, officials announced Wednesday.
What happens now is the direct transfer of cargo from airplanes to the CBP inspection facility will be expedited, eliminating the need for additional transport and significantly enhancing efficiency and security.
This Centralized Examination Station was made possible through a partnership between CBP, DFW Airport and dnata Cargo USA.
"The CES is a key part of supporting DFW Airport’s rapid growth of international e-commerce package clearances,” said Chris McLaughlin, DFW’s Executive Vice President Operations. “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."
The CES will have CBP officers on site, ensuring faster inspections and optimal use of CBP resources, officials said.
The station also features non-intrusive inspection technology to expedite cargo exams, "streamlining the overall package clearance process at DFW and ultimately speeding up delivery of imported goods to recipients in the North Texas region and beyond."
Airport officials said they processed 16,000 international e-commerce clearances in fiscal year 2020, which has increased to 20 million packages in 2023 and already 23 million packages through the first half of fiscal year 2024.
"By continuing to work closely with CBP, airline and cargo partners, and local freight forwarders, DFW aims to be the cargo hub of choice in North America," DFW Airport officials said in a release.
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