FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2017
WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) today celebrated the more than 2 million downloads of the free Mobile Passport Control app that helps improve passenger facilitation at airports by allowing eligible travelers to submit their passport information and customs declaration form via an iOS or Android device prior to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection. The announcement comes as airports are expecting a surge in passenger travel over the Labor Day holiday.
“We are thrilled that Mobile Passport has reached more than 2 million downloads,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “This app was designed to facilitate fast and efficient entry into the United States while maintaining the highest safety and security standards. During busy travel times like Labor Day Weekend, airports rely on innovative technology like Mobile Passport to assist in safely and efficiently facilitating passengers while enhancing the travel experience.”
A projected 16.1 million passengers are expected to travel worldwide over the Labor Day holiday. According to Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, the projected number of passengers is a 5% increase from last year’s 15.4 million passengers during the same travel period. The travel period for the Labor Day holiday will take place from August 30 – September 5, 2017.
Mobile Passport was developed in 2014 by ACI-NA and Airside Mobile in partnership with CBP. It is a first of its kind app aimed at improving passenger facilitation. Today, the app has expanded to 24 airports and 1 cruise port. Mobile Passport enrolled 195,000 new members in July for a total of 2.4 million cumulative members, providing significant relief for limited CBP staffing resources.
The Mobile Passport App is available for free and can be downloaded from Apple’s iTunes App Store or Google’s Play App Store.