Canada Takes Action to Reduce Traveller Wait Times at Airports

Strategic Insights -

The Government of Canada and the air industry are continuing to take action to ease airport congestion and help keep travellers moving. The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, and other ministers have issued an update on the steps being taken to reduce traveller wait times and delays across Canadian airports. This includes advancing the rights of travellers, collaborating with partners to find solutions, increasing staffing for security screening, streamlining customs processing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and promoting the use of ArriveCAN.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Government of Canada and the air industry are working together to reduce traveller wait times and delays across Canadian airports.
  • New regulations taking effect on September 8, 2022, will ensure that passengers are offered a refund for flights that are cancelled or delayed due to reasons outside of an air carrier's control.
  • The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has been provided with additional resources of $11 million to assist in enforcing the Air Passenger Protection Regulations and resolving passenger disputes.
  • In recent weeks, Minister Alghabra has met with senior leadership of numerous airports and airlines to ensure ongoing collaboration and action to reduce delays.
  • Over 1.4 million travellers successfully used the ArriveCAN app in the week leading up to August 14.
  • The optional Advance CBSA Declaration feature in ArriveCAN has been used by 34 percent of arriving passengers at Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, and Montral-Trudeau international airports, reducing their time spent at a kiosk by roughly one third.
  • Additional airports will have access to the ArriveCAN Advance CBSA Declaration feature in the coming weeks.

Statistics:

  • 1,740 CATSA screening officers have been hired across Canada since April.
  • 12 eGates, 4 dedicated NEXUS eGates, and 30 new primary inspection kiosks (PIKS) have been added at Toronto Pearson International Airport to facilitate entry and expeditate traveller processing.
  • 1.4 million travellers successfully used the ArriveCAN app in the week leading up to August 14.
  • 34 percent of arriving passengers at Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, and Montral-Trudeau international airports used the optional Advance CBSA Declaration feature in ArriveCAN.
  • The total number of eGates, NEXUS eGates, and PIKS at Toronto Pearson International Airport increased by 46 since April.

Sources:

  • Government of Canada (Department of Transport)
  • Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA)
  • ArriveCAN App
  • Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)