Logistics leader to operate inspection station at NY hub

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has selected Worldwide Flight Services , a subsidiary of SATS Group , to operate a new centralized examination station at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. [caption id="attachment_57143440" align="alignright" width="300"] Rinzing Wangyal, left, VP of business development for North America at Worldwide Flight Services, with Salvatore Ingrassia, port director at JFK for CPB. (Courtesy/Worldwide Flight Services)[/caption] Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) a five-year contract last week to operate the station, which will begin its phased opening in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent release from WFS. “A centralized examination station (CES) is a privately operated facility where cargo designated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or other agencies for physical examination is inspected,” Frank Clemente , senior vice president cargo for North America at WFS, told Air Cargo Next . “This represents a significant change from the current model at JFK Airport.” The steps taken under John F. Kennedy International Airport ’s (JFK) current CBP inspection model are: CBP places a shipment on hold for inspection via its Automated Manifest System. The ground handling agent (GHA) holds the shipment at its facility. CBP inspects the shipment at the GHA facility. Following inspection, CBP clears the cargo for release or seizes it for further action. Steps taken under the new CES model are: Shipments on hold for examination may be transferred to the CES at CBP’s discretion. The importer/agent arranges and pays for the bonded transfer of merchandise to the CES. WFS can perform the transfer for a service fee. The shipment is prepared for examination within the CES. After inspection by the appropriate agencies, the shipment is either cleared for release or detained. In addition to transport fees, WFS may also charge storage fees based on clearance and pickup times, and fees for charging active containers, shipment breakdown and shipment buildup, according to Clemente. While the new model at JFK has the same number of steps for inspection as the current model, it is expected to be more efficient, better coordinated and more secure. “CBP at JFK previously had to send CBP [officers and agricultural specialists] to more than 100 different facilities to examine cargo, each with different tools, technology and working conditions,” Anthony Bucci , public affairs specialist for the CBP’s New York Field Office, told Air Cargo Next . “The CES enables more thorough, coordinated and efficient inspections in a modernized workspace featuring the latest inspection tools and technologies.” First all-encompassing air CES This station will be the first air CES to contain all segments of CBP inspections and will be the first on-airport examination facility at JFK. The nearest CES to JFK is at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). [caption id="attachment_57143441" align="alignright" width="300"] Airfreight, logistics and US Customs and Border Control leaders (Courtesy/WFS)[/caption] “The new CES facility will integrate all types of CBP inspections under one roof,” Clemente said. “Unlike other CES facilities, which may only handle certain types of inspections, this facility will be comprehensive in its capabilities. ... It will handle all segments of CBP inspections, including agriculture, security and compliance checks.” The CES will include a U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory for agricultural inspections and disposal, “allowing for on-site inspection and disposal of agricultural products, which is a unique feature not commonly found in other CES facilities,” Clemente said. The station centralizes all inspection equipment and personnel, reducing the need for multiple transfers and minimizing delays, according to Clemente. “CES facilities are common at maritime ports of entry, but CBP has only recently begun to expand their use into the air cargo environment,” Bucci said. “The JFK facility is the first air cargo CES to integrate both traditional customs inspections and agriculture inspections, which are critical for preventing the entry of pests and diseases that could harm U.S. agriculture and ecosystems.” Building out the station The CES will be located within one of WFS’ cargo facilities, Building 151, at the airport and will cover more than 100,000 square feet of warehousing, office accommodation and support facilities. The existing cargo operations in that building will move to Building 260, which will open in Q1 2025, according to Clemente. Office space will be reserved for import specialists from CBP’s Centers for Excellence and Expertise, Bucci said. WFS will build out Building 151 to suit CBP’s specific requirements. It will create separate inspection zones for agriculture, security and compliance, and will expand storage space to accommodate detained and cleared cargo, with specialized areas for different types of cargo, according to Clemente. WFS will also establish a logistics hub to accommodate bonded transfers and cargo handling. WFS will procure and install advanced equipment such as X-ray machines, scanning devices and examination tables, Clemente said. WFS will implement new security systems, secure access controls and fencing to ensure the safety and security of the cargo. While adding new equipment, WFS will also phase out outdated equipment. “This preparation is essential for the smooth transition of cargo operations and the successful opening of the CES,” Clemente said. CES to be fully digital Technology provider Kale Logistics Solutions is developing custom software for the CES, according to Clemente. The API will “make this CES the first paperless CES,” he said. The following documents will be digitized in the system: Bills of lading; Commercial invoices; Packing lists; Inspection reports; Customs declarations; Release orders; Bonded transfer documentation; and Any other documentation required by CBP and other regulatory agencies. “By digitizing these documents, we aim to enhance efficiency, reduce paper use and improve the overall speed and accuracy of the inspection and release processes,” Clemente said Eyes on JFK More than 85 international carriers move cargo through JFK and the airport is one of WFS’ biggest international cargo stations, according to WFS. JFK ranked 22nd on Air Cargo Next ’s top 50 cargo airports list. In 2023, 1.5 million tonnes of cargo went through the airport, a 2.5% increase from the previous year, according to data sent to Air Cargo Next by the airport. When inspecting cargo at JFK, CBP focuses on several key issues, according to Bucci, including: Contraband, which includes illegal drugs, weapons and other items that could pose a threat to national security and public safety; Agricultural pests and diseases, which could devastate U.S. agriculture and ecosystems; Goods made from forced labor , including child labor. CBP has detained apparel, electronics and seafood in recent years due to this issue, according to Bucci; Trade compliance, which means ensuring that goods have the proper documentation and classifications and comply with U.S. trade laws; and Intellectual property rights, which includes detaining counterfeit goods. “Trends that CBP has caught in the past include sophisticated smuggling operations using hidden compartments in cargo, attempts to import large quantities of counterfeit consumer goods, shipments contaminated with harmful agricultural pests and goods produced with forced labor,” Bucci said. “By leveraging intelligence and advanced screening technologies, CBP continues to adapt to evolving threats and maintain the integrity of U.S. borders.” Register here for Air Cargo Next ’s upcoming webinar, “Air Cargo and Pharma: Using Technology to Save Lives,” on Tuesday, June 18, at 11 a.m. ET.

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