Anybody who has ever suffered through a long-haul flight to the United States and then queued for hours to get through the immigration and customs gates will welcome the news that the process is to be simplified. As The National reported yesterday, a pilot programme has begun at Abu Dhabi airport allowing US-bound passengers to clear US customs before they leave the UAE.
This initiative – the first of its kind in the Middle East – allows American border protection personnel to screen passengers and their luggage, who will then be able to bypass the busy immigration channels at their destination. It was launched on Friday with an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Washington Dulles International Airport.
There are many reasons to welcome the initiative, starting with the obvious convenience of being able to complete a bureaucratic procedure before an exhausting 14-hour flight. It also means that any potential problems that a traveller may face are sorted out before take-off rather than on arrival in a foreign land. Often through no fault of their own, many passengers from this region have suffered delays due to the increased rigour imposed at US entry points since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. In the past, confusion over similar names have caused some residents to face long interviews, searches and other delays before being allowed into the country.
As Dr Ahmad Shikara, of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, told The National, the checkpoint has been set up as the result of the sustained good relationship between the UAE and the US, and its implementation “can only strengthen the relationship further”. It’s a credit to the UAE foreign ministry that it has built such strong international relationships that have enabled this arrangement and initiatives such as the Schengen visa waiver scheme that will soon be available to Emirati travellers to Europe.
The Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association has expressed concern that the new arrangement currently applies only to Etihad Airways, potentially disadvantaging American carriers. While it’s true that the programme should be extended – not just to other airlines but also to Dubai airport – the American pilots should be more concerned about the long delays at US arrival halls that discourage potential passengers. Embracing this strategy will help reduce those queues for all travellers.
