United and U.S. Customs Launch Remote Baggage Screening Program on Select International Flights

Amsterdam / Washington, D.C. — In a move aimed at modernizing global air travel and reducing passenger hassle, United Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have initiated a new International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) program on selected international routes. This effort lets checked baggage be x-rayed overseas and assessed remotely by CBP officers before the flight lands, enabling passengers to potentially bypass the traditional “claim and re-check” step when connecting domestically in the U.S.

What Is Remote Baggage Screening?

Under the IRBS system, x-ray and computed tomography images of checked baggage are captured at the departing foreign airport. CBP personnel in the United States receive and evaluate these images remotely while the inbound flight is en route.

If a bag is cleared during this remote inspection, the passenger need not collect and re-check it during connection procedures in the U.S. Instead, after clearing passport control, they proceed directly to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint for carry-on and passenger screening. Only baggage referred by CBP for further inspection will be diverted for manual handling.

Notably, the IRBS does not alter existing TSA screening requirements or security standards for checked baggage—the change is in when and where CBP examines the security images.

United’s Role & Scope of Launch

United is deploying this capability on a select set of international flights. The exact routes and timing are not comprehensively public yet, but the airline has described this as a pilot or early deployment phase. Previously, American Airlines had announced a similar pilot in April 2025 for its Sydney → Los Angeles route in partnership with CBP. The idea is to gradually expand to additional routes and carriers over time. United’s adoption signals that multiple major carriers may participate in this next-generation baggage flow redesign.

Why It Matters

• Shorter Connection Times & Passenger Convenience
One of the primary benefits is reducing the time and effort required for making domestic connections in the U.S. under the traditional process, where passengers must collect checked baggage, clear customs, and re-check it for onward flights. With IRBS, many passengers will be able to skip that step, assuming their baggage is cleared remotely.

• More Proactive Security
By inspecting baggage before arrival, CBP can flag suspicious items earlier and direct targeted referrals—potentially making security operations more efficient and risk-based.

• Technological & Infrastructure Advances
The system leverages cloud infrastructure, secure image/metadata transmission, and integration with airline and customs systems. Computed tomography images of luggage are transmitted and ingested into CBP’s baggage analysis systems.