EIA traffic ramping up with easing of vaccine requirements at Canadian airports
Officials at Edmonton International Airport (EIA) claim they are well staffed enough to avoid the kinds of delays seen at Toronto Pearson International Airport as COVID-19 rules are relaxed further.
Effective Monday, domestic and outbound international travellers no longer needed to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
"That's good. Add more passengers into the mix," said Steve Maybee, vice president of EIA's operations, infrastructure and communications, late Monday morning.
"And it's been a busy morning already today."
While he conceded there had been some delays, none compared to those that have hamstrung Pearson in Toronto, Maybee told reporters.
"We've known this was going to come, this increase in traffic. So we've been working with all our partners for quite a few months to be prepared, and everybody has staffed up and is ready to go."
- Staff alleging poor work conditions at airports as travellers suffer lost luggage and longer wait times
- Basic income would ease poverty but require higher taxes, spending cuts: study
Much stress can be alleviated by arriving at the airport well prepared, he and a Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) spokesperson said. Here were their best tips.
TOP TIPS
Despite the easing of most restrictions, some rules remain in effect, such as: masks are still mandatory after security and on board aircraft in Canada, regardless of destination. Maybee recommended checking EIA's website as well as the federal government's, given public health measures will likely continue to evolve.
However, different destinations have different rules upon arrival. Double check the health guidelines of your destination.
Remind yourself of the baggage rules – what you can take, in what quantity, and in what kind of container. "Honestly, people have forgotten how to travel," Maybee said. "So the best thing to do is go online, remind yourself of what you can pack, what you can't pack."
Arrive early.
Be attentive to airport processes, like having your passport accessible and removing electronics from your carry-on suitcase when going through security.
Be patient. "People are relearning how to travel, the people working here are relearning. Some of these people were out of work for two years, and now they're coming back," Maybee said.
Finally, familiarize yourself with ArriveCan and get it set up for your return to Canada. Maybee said the federal app really expedites the process of clearing customs. "Otherwise, all those questions need to be asked by an officer. If you add two minutes onto every passenger coming through, by the time you get to you, the last person in the line, that could be an hour of time."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.