Laredo Int’l Leverages BiNational Customs Stations to Support Mexican Cargo Ops (Source: Airport Improvement)
Jennifer Bradley
In 2015, when overall U.S. foreign trade declined 5.6%, business was booming in Laredo, TX.
In fact, trade was at a record high, and Laredo climbed to third in the nation-behind only
Los Angeles and New York City.
Laredo International Airport (LRD) was in a prime position to facilitate and leverage the
boom, because it had equipped itself for increased cargo business by building and opening
the only bi-national federal inspection station (FIS) in the United States.
Completed in November 2012 and open for business in spring 2013, LRD’s bi-national
inspection station contains U.S. and Mexican Customs facilities. This allows U.S. exports
such as auto parts, electronics and aerospace products to be inspected at LRD for expedited
entry into airports at eight key Mexican cities: Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro,
Guanajuato, Toluca, Guadalajara, Hermosillo and Ramos Arizpe.
