Columbus airport's Customs method not so customary
A change in the way U.S. Customs clears business aircraft arriving at Port Columbus is leaving people such as Limited Brands founder Leslie H. Wexner and Blue Jackets star Rick Nash waiting around for an hour or two after returning from outside the country.
That's at least triple the time they spent clearing customs in the past -- and still spend at other airports.
Although that change has been in effect for two years, the situation has gotten under the skin of local business leaders, who say it not only is an inconvenience but hurts Columbus' ability to compete for companies that might bring in jobs.
Limited Brands, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Nationwide are among the major local firms with their own aircraft that regularly use Port Columbus. The airport is also the headquarters of the world's largest business-jet operator, NetJets.
For years, private flights coming in were met by Customs and Border Protection agents who cleared them "planeside" on the tarmac of the business they use as a terminal and as a provider of services, such as fuel and food. At Port Columbus, that's usually Lane Aviation.
On average, one flight per day arrives from outside the U.S. at Port Columbus, said Mark Myers, marketing chief for Lane.
Two years ago, the Chicago customs office that oversees Ohio and 11 other states gave short notice that the procedure here would change: Flights would have to taxi up to Concourse C of the main Port Columbus terminal; passengers would have to get off the plane and go into the customs office near Gate 46.
The agency said it was changing its policy for security reasons.
Other airports contacted for this story say they still are handling customs procedures planeside.
Business leaders say the difference between procedures here and at other cities' airports could cost Columbus revenue and jobs if companies looking to expand choose to take their business elsewhere.
"Port Columbus is our front door, and we want to make sure that it's a good first impression," said Steve Lyons, vice president of member services for the Columbus Partnership. The civic organization, made up primarily of central Ohio CEOs, got involved in the issue after hearing from several members that it was becoming a problem.
Jack Kessler, a member of the partnership, has been an outspoken proponent of making customs more user-friendly again in Columbus. He also is an airport authority board member and business partner of Wexner through his New Albany Co. development firm.
"Limited does a lot of business in Canada. Les often goes up and back in the same day and has to go through this each time," Kessler said. "A lot of the private planes are landing somewhere else first (to clear customs) before coming back to Columbus specifically because it takes so long here."
Brian Bell, spokesman for the Chicago office of Customs and Border Protection, said initially that he was unaware of any problems in Columbus.
After talking to the head of customs in Columbus, Elbert Bays, Bell said it only takes an average of 10 minutes to clear someone for customs and that any recent delays might be attributable to construction at the airport. That has required planes to "nose in" to the terminal rather than park sideways, which requires that they be pushed back when leaving rather than taxiing away on their own.
Bell maintained that the procedure here is in line with what's being done at all other airports.
That doesn't appear to be the case, though, in checking with other airports throughout the country.
Virtually all members of the Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association reported that they are still having flights cleared planeside or at the business the plane uses for services, said Mark Myers, marketing chief for Lane Aviation and vice president of the association.
One of the few exceptions is Cleveland, which, like Port Columbus, has a customs office within its commercial terminal and is overseen by the Chicago customs office.
Smaller Ohio airports that do not have a customs office inside the main terminal say they have not had any changes or problems.
In Akron, custom officials come from the agency's on-airfield office to meet flights at the two fixed-base operators -- companies such as Lane Aviation that service business planes, said Kristie Van Auken, communications director for the airport. At Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, customer service chief Tamara Mardis said customs officers generally arrive early from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to quickly clear business jets.
For now, Port Columbus officials and local business officials say they're still working toward a solution -- and puzzling over the situation.
"It's a real shame when people flying in on business aircraft are bringing their checkbooks and are being greeted this way," Myers said. "This doesn't happen in Charlotte, which we compete with for business. You don't have an hour-and-a-half delay flying in there."
Both Lane Aviation and the airport are exploring how much it would cost to build a new facility that could ease delays in the customs process. Myers said Lane was told at one point that a facility attached to Lane would not be acceptable, though Bell said it could be, with the right specifications.
Myers said the first preference would be to return to planeside inspections -- the fastest method.
Finding a solution is important, but it is hampered by an apparent disconnect between what custom officials are saying and what is being done elsewhere, said David Whitaker, vice president of business development for Port Columbus.
"It's important to us to be user-friendly. We're actively exploring how we can help."
