Passengers flying with Qatar Airways from Doha to New York-JFK no longer have to reclaim and recheck their luggage with customs for a connecting onward flight.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month brought the Doha-JFK route into its recently launched International Remote Baggage Screening program, which allows customs officers to inspect the bags of U.S.-bound travelers for potential threats or contraband ahead of time.
With IRBS, security agents at select foreign airports capture X-ray images of checked bags on U.S.-bound flights and transmit them to CBP officers, who remotely review them while the aircraft is en route. In this case, the scans will be sent from Hamad International Airport to JFK.
The approach expedites processing and allows connecting passengers to proceed directly to their onward flight without having to reclaim and recheck their baggage, unless they are selected for additional, in-person inspection.
“The expansion of International Remote Baggage Screening on the Doha-JFK route significantly bolsters our enforcement capabilities,” Diane Sabatino, CBP’s executive assistant commissioner, said in a news release. “This initiative leverages advanced technology and international partnerships to proactively identify and interdict threats before they reach the U.S. By collaborating with Qatar Airways, the Qatar Ministry of the Interior, and the New Terminal One, we are strengthening our security posture and ensuring that all baggage is rigorously screened to prevent the entry of illicit items and protect the homeland.”
CBP tested remote screening in 2025 on American Airlines’ route between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. The option is now available on a handful of international routes, including United’s service from San Francisco to Sydney and American flights between Dallas/Fort Worth and London Heathrow.
