New technology at airport to make customs screenings faster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials at Charlotte-Douglas Airport will demonstrate new technology meant to make travelers' flights smoother.
 
Eyewitness News anchor Scott Wickersham found out how the airport plans to make customs screenings 89-percent faster.
                              
There are kiosks for American or Canadian citizens who are considered low risk
 
They use them to enter their information instead of having a border agent do all that administrative work
 
Then they can quickly pass through the lines and have a better chance of making their connecting flights
 
In Charlotte, that means lowering the average wait time from 25 minutes to as little as 15 or even 10 minutes.
 
Customs agents said that allows them to focus on the passengers they considered high risk and focus on their main job.
 
The expedited process comes a time when international arrivals are on the rise here at Charlotte Douglas. In 2006, there were 800,000 international arrivals. Now, there are almost 1.5 million a year.

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