Strong start for Austin Straubel customs site

ASHWAUBENON - The new International Arrivals Terminal at Green Bay’s airport is busier than officials had predicted, handling about six more aircraft per month than was anticipated when the building opened last spring.

Through Jan. 31, 291 aircraft had cleared customs in the first eight months that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility had been open at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. That puts it on pace to handle 436 aircraft in its first year — more than the 400 that officials had projected at a ceremony in late May.

"We're the answer to 'Where's the best place to get in and out (of customs) in a hurry?'" said Tom Miller, airport director for Brown County. "It's clear that these pilot groups are talking to each other about the advantages of Green Bay."

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A total of 277 aircraft cleared customs in Green Bay through Dec. 31. Fourteen planes cleared in January, likely because of larger-than-usual amounts of fog and ice, Miller said.

Miller said the facility has served a range of aircraft and pilots, from commercial aircraft to a private plane carrying a Saudi prince who was headed to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Aircraft have arrived via the Great Circle Route from Europe, or from airports as close by as Canada.

The facility enables people on corporate and private aircraft to clear customs in as little as 10 minutes at no charge, Miller said. It is one of two "landing-rights airports" in Wisconsin to offer the service; Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport is the other.

County Executive Troy Streckenbach and other officials have said they hope the facility will enable to airport to serve increasing numbers of international flights. That, in turn, would boost the airport's economic impact on northeastern Wisconsin.

“All of this makes GRB very attractive for international travel,” Streckenbach said in a prepared statement.

The terminal, staffed by three officers, was built in the Green Bay airport's old firefighting facility using $3 million in federal money and $1.3 million in state and county funds.  Customs officers previously worked in the airport’s main terminal building.

dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider