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Passengers on British Airways' (BA) forthcoming business class flights from London City airport to New York will be able to go through customs and immigration checks at Shannon airport in Ireland rather than New York's John F Kennedy airport.

BA's new service from London City to New York JFK will have a stopover at Shannon to refuel, at which point passengers will be able to undergo the checks that would normally be carried out at their final destination.

Irish transport minister Noel Dempsey made an announcement to confirm that Shannon will become the first European airport to be granted pre-clearance facilities for transatlantic flights to America.

BA said that the opportunity to be cleared for arrival at Shannon rather than the busy hub of New York JFK would increase convenience for business class travellers.

Robert Boyle, the airline's commercial director, said: 'The introduction of pre-clearance facilities at Shannon will mean customers on our business class flights from London City to New York will be able to bypass the normal customs and immigration checks on arrival in the US.

'Many city workers will be able to get from desk to aircraft in as little as 30 minutes at London City. Now it will be more convenient than ever to travel from desk to desk from London City to New York, in unrivalled comfort and style.'

BA's exclusively business class flights to New York, which are due to launch in autumn 2009, will represent the first long-haul route to be operated from London City airport.

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