Industry
US Customs pre-clearance at MBJ enters phase 2
Sangster International (MBJ) has entered the second phase of US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance trials, with all American Airlines and JetBlue MBJ-departure flights now eligible. The change adds 15-30 minutes to airport time but lets passengers exit US arrivals as domestic.
Published May 9, 2026 · AI-assisted editorial
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay has entered the second phase of US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance, with all American Airlines and JetBlue departures from MBJ now eligible. Delta and United are scheduled to join in Q4 2026.
What pre-clearance actually does
Passengers complete US Customs and immigration formalities BEFORE boarding in Jamaica, then disembark at their US destination as if arriving on a domestic flight — no second customs queue at JFK, MIA, ATL, or LAX. The arrangement mirrors the long-standing program at Toronto, Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi, and a handful of Caribbean hubs.
What changes at the airport
Affected passengers should arrive at MBJ at least three hours before departure for international flights — the pre-clearance check adds 15 to 30 minutes versus the old workflow, and the new screening corridor is in the recently-expanded west pier (gates 11-15). Travelers using meet-and-greet services or private transfers should plan for the longer airport window.
If your booking is on a non-participating airline (Caribbean Airlines, Frontier, Spirit, etc.), nothing changes — you continue to clear US Customs at your arrival airport in the conventional way.
What we are watching
The pre-clearance program is structured as a 24-month evaluation. Full ratification by Phase 3 (Q1 2028) depends on US Customs throughput hitting agreed-on benchmarks at MBJ. Norman Manley (KIN) is on the longer-term roadmap but no firm timeline has been announced.