Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has equipped the first US pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East with a modern baggage handling system.
In the facility adjacent to Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE, Siemens’ new baggage handling system ensures full passenger convenience. US-bound passengers who don’t use the pre-clearance facility still encounter lengthy delays following the necessary immigration process on arrival.
By using the pre-clearance facility, passengers on US-bound flights quickly clear immigration and customs at Abu Dhabi International Airport. On arriving in the US they are treated as domestic passengers, which allows for faster bag checking and processing.
Over recent years Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has therefore set up pre-clearance facilities at an increasing number of airports outside the US. Travellers can complete immigration formalities there before their flight takes off.
Once passengers have successfully concluded the CBP controls, checking through of their baggage to their destination in the US requires no further formalities. Up to now there have been just nine such facilities worldwide in Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Ireland. With the development at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the US authority has implemented the first pre-clearance terminal in the Middle East.
In addition to the pre-clearance terminal, Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has successfully completed two more baggage handling projects for Abu Dhabi airports.
In the course of the Terminal 3 expansion, Siemens delivered and installed state-of-the-art baggage handling equipment for the new transfer baggage facility. In the arrival area of Terminal 1, Siemens modernised the baggage reclaim with five new incline carousels, new conveyor connections and the respective control system adaptations. The project was completed ahead of schedule and in time for the peak travel season.
Siemens Logistics and Airport Solutions has also been contracted to continue their operation and maintenance services for the baggage handling systems in Terminals 1 and 3, and the cargo hub of Abu Dhabi Airports.