Local

Passport kiosks could be headed to Charlotte Douglas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council will vote on a plan Monday night which would make Charlotte Douglas International Airport one of just a few airports in the country with passport kiosks.

Council members said the kiosks will get travelers through customs quicker -- just as the recent American Airlines – US Airways merger brings more international flights to Charlotte.

Not only could the passport kiosks make the customs process quicker, travelers would be able to do part of the process themselves.

The machines will be very similar to the self-check in machines in the airport lobby, except the kiosks will be in the customs area for U.S. citizens coming back to Charlotte from international flights.

The kiosks would eliminate a step of the customs process -- instead of filling out a declaration card, passengers would be able to go straight to a self-service kiosk and do it themselves.

Council will vote to approve buying the $1.4 million machines at Monday's city council meeting.

They'll also vote on a contract with Vancouver's airport authority to oversee and maintain the kiosks. If it's approved, Charlotte Douglas will join six other airports who already use the kiosks -- like Chicago's O'Hare and New York's JFK.