This article is from page 17 of the 2012-09-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
IT HAS been confirmed that from late October, Shannon Airport cutbacks meant that US immigration pre-clearance won’t be available to British Airways on one of its daily all-business class flights from London City to New York.
The airline currently offers two daily all-business class flights, with both services routing via Shannon on the outbound journey for refuelling, before returning directly from New York.
At present passengers can avail of US immigration pre-clearance at Shannon during the stop, meaning that they arrive at JFK as a domestic passenger, thus avoiding immigration queues.
BA has confirmed that from October 28 pre-clearance will only be available on flight BA001. This change has been forced by cutbacks at Shannon Airport, which will see US officials working fewer hours.
“Our business class-only service between London City and New York, which stops at Shannon, is about to enter its third year of successful operation,” a BA spokesperson revealed.
“Changes in the staffing regime at Shannon Airport, by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has shortened the opening hours of their pre-clearance facility in Shannon.
“Therefore, we have made changes to the double-daily service for the winter schedule, beginning in October 28.
“Following consultations which explored a range of different options, and feedback from our corporate customers, we have rescheduled the BA001 to depart earlier at 0950 to allow continued access to US preclearance facilities in Shannon.
“The BA003 remains departing at 1600, but customers will not benefit from pre-clearance in Shannon and will instead arrive in New York at International Arrivals,” the spokesperson added.