Irish airports to offer pre-departure immigration checks

(17 November 2008)

Both Dublin and Shannon airports in Ireland are set to become the first outside the Americas to offer full US immigration checks prior to departure.

The Irish government said that the move will potentially boost its position as a transatlantic hub.

Passengers must still clear customs and agriculture inspections on arrival in the United States and flights form Shannon and Dublin “will be treated like domestic flights in the US”, Ireland's transport minister Noel Dempsey stated.