U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services will be available at California’s Van Nuys Airport (VNY) by the end of next month, according to Castle & Cooke Aviation, one of the three FBOs on the field. Seven years since these services were withdrawn, “local support has made it possible for international general aviation flights soon to be able to clear customs in Van Nuys,” said Castle & Cooke general manager Tony Marlow. The CBP facilities have been made possible through an investment made at the airport by rival FBO Signature Flight Support.
Customs will have a dedicated facility and staff, though services will be available only by reservation. Still, this will allow VNY-based tenants to avoid stopping at another airport to clear customs then repositioning home.
Meanwhile, the FBO said it is already prepared for the expected influx in international arrivals when CBP services begin, thanks to a recent ramp expansion and facility upgrades. “The addition of CBP services will enhance the diversity in Van Nuys and increase the overall airport activity, making VNY a more attractive airport to international travelers,” said Marlow.
Castle & Cooke’s two other locations—at Honolulu International Airport and Paine Field in Everett, Wash.—already have available on-field CBP services.