After operating out of a temporary facility for more than a year, the United States Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station at the Capital Regional International Airport finally has its own facility.
The 17,500 square foot, $4.3 million port of entry is located at the east end of the main terminal.
“The full service travel inspection station will provide customs clearances for large and mall passenger aircraft, air cargo shipments and corporate aviation flights,” 
says Robert Selig, executive director of the Capital Region Airport Authority.
“We’ll be the only full service, international airport inside of the state, outside of Detroit," he says, "meaning that most of the international airports in Michigan that have international in their name only clear corporate aviation flights."
Lansing has been clearing similar flights for more than a year, but also has full range custom clearance, including passenger cargo.
“Our intention is to be a mini version of Detroit and Chicago,” Selig says.
Selig says the Capital Region Airport Authority is working with several airlines to establish international passenger flight departures from Lansing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been operating out of the temporary facility since June 2008.
Source: Bob Kolt, Kolt Communications
Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Capital Gains and can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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