American Airlines and CBP Unveil New Remote Baggage Screening, Transforming International Travel with Reduced Wait Times and Smoother Trips: What You Need to Know

Published on April 9, 2025

American Airlines has partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to launch a cutting-edge program aimed at enhancing the international travel experience for passengers. This initiative is part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to make air travel more efficient and seamless, while maintaining the highest levels of security. The new program, which complements American’s One Stop Security service introduced in February, is designed to improve the entire journey for international travelers.

The innovative concept, known as International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), will streamline the baggage handling process for passengers arriving in the U.S. from select international airports. Travelers will no longer need to pick up their checked baggage at the CBP Customs Hall and recheck it for connecting flights. After clearing CBP Passport Control, passengers will head directly to the TSA checkpoint and proceed to their next flight. This process, powered by advanced technology, allows baggage screening to be conducted remotely, reducing connection times without compromising security.

The pilot program is set to launch this week, with American Airlines, CBP, and Sydney Airport Authority working together to introduce it on the airline’s daily flight from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). American Airlines and CBP are optimistic that the initiative will expand to additional cities in the future, further improving the international travel experience for all passengers.

“We are excited to collaborate with CBP on this innovative initiative,” said Gary Tomasulo, Vice President of Global Corporate Security at American. “By leveraging advanced technology and working with Sydney Airport and our vendor partners BagCheck and Brock Solutions, we are enhancing safety and security while streamlining the CBP baggage inspection process to make global travel smoother and more convenient for our customers.”

“As part of our innovation efforts in air travel, CBP is leveraging technology to enhance baggage inspections to further secure and streamline travel,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Diane J. Sabatino. “The International Remote Baggage Screening initiative is a significant step forward in modernizing our processes and providing a secure and seamless experience for international travelers.”

Graham White, Head of Security at Sydney Airport, said, “It’s fantastic to support American Airlines and CBP on this initiative, which represents a significant, positive shift in terms of the experience for passengers transiting through U.S. ports. Our top priorities are safety, efficiency and service, and through this collaboration we can achieve all three. We look forward to successfully launching this pilot which is a great example of how technology can modernize and streamline customs and border processing.”

This initiative is a key component of CBP’s broader Airport Modernization Plan, designed to enhance both security and the traveler experience through cutting-edge technology at U.S. Federal Inspection Stations (FIS). The partnership marks a significant step in CBP’s ongoing efforts to protect national security while ensuring a smoother, more efficient travel process for U.S. citizens, trusted travelers, and international visitors.