Travelers in Southern California can now say goodbye to long lines at customs as the Ontario International Airport gears up to speed things up. The airport is the newest home to a Global Entry Enrollment Center, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in partnership with the airport. This addition marks the sixth of its kind in California and promises to ease the process for approved, low-risk travelers.
These centers are a godsend for frequent flyers, streamlining the clearance process once they touch down on U.S. soil. "The new center reflects CBP’s commitment to improving the customer experience as Global Entry continues to attract thousands of new applicants in the Greater Los Angeles area and neighboring communities," Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in a statement confirmed by CBP. With this center set to open its doors on December 24, residents of Inland Empire, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties can look forward to a hassle-free reentry into the country after international jaunts.
Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners, couldn't contain his excitement about the partnership. "We are thrilled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has selected ONT to serve as the site of its newest Global Entry Enrollment Center and look forward to helping residents across Southern California access this time-saving international travel amenity," he was quoted saying on the CBP website.
The Global Entry program has over 12.7 million members and is available in 77 U.S. airports, including 14 Preclearance locations. It processed a record 3.8 million applications in the last fiscal year. Adding to the convenience, over 14.8 million travelers made use of the Global Entry Touchless Portals and the new Global Entry Mobile Application in this period, according to CBP's announcement.
