New Biometric Screening Cuts Customs Wait Times at Charlotte Airport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun testing a new biometric screening system at Charlotte Douglas International Airport that significantly reduces wait times for international travelers. Implemented in early February 2025, the technology has reportedly cut customs processing times for U.S. citizens by up to 51%.

Airport officials stated that the facial comparison method allows customs agents to match travelers’ faces with passport photos and airline information submitted at least 24 hours prior to arrival. Charlotte Douglas is one of four airports nationwide utilizing this new system, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports.

The average wait time for U.S. citizens has decreased from 16 minutes to just 8.63 minutes, while non-U.S. citizens have seen a reduction from 22 minutes to 14.33 minutes. “It was super quick,” said traveler Zane Pendleton, who arrived from Munich. “I’ve only been through Customs once before at LAX, and it was the longest day of my life.”

Cherrise Montgomery, Acting Port Director at CBP, emphasized the advantages of the new process, stating, “We can get passengers through faster while completing our CBP processes, and the likelihood of a passenger missing their connecting flights is significantly reduced.”

Unlike the Global Entry program, which requires a $120 fee and a thorough background screening, this biometric system is available at no cost to all U.S. citizens. Travelers can also choose to opt out of the facial recognition process if they prefer.

The implementation of this technology comes as international travel at Charlotte Douglas continues to rise. CBP anticipates that approximately two million international travelers will pass through CLT during fiscal year 2025, surpassing last year’s figure of nearly 1.9 million. Notably, about 85% of these arrivals are U.S. citizens eligible for Enhanced Primary Processing.