Canada hires 850 airport screening agents amid backlogs
Posted June 8, 2022 1:56 pm.
As passengers at some of Canada’s largest airports continue to face delays and even flight cancellations, the federal government says it is adding resources to try to help ease the travel pain.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has hired over 850 new screening agents in recent weeks to help deal with delays and get passengers to their gates faster.
More help is on its way! @catsa_gc has now hired over 850 new agents across Canada. This will help get you through security faster and on your way to your destination. We will keep working to reduce wait times at airports. pic.twitter.com/kdAEjhPRbg
— Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) June 8, 2022
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says more will be done, as they work on solutions in a working group with federal agencies, airports, and airlines.
“We in government are assessing and re-assessing. We’re taking advice from our stakeholders … There will be new measures that will be announced soon,” he said.
Alghabra would not provide a specific timeline for when those announcements could be made.
The goal, the minister says, is to smooth out issues before the busy summer travel season kicks into high gear in the next few weeks. He refused to say whether the new measures would include eliminating vaccine or mask mandates.
Related articles:
-
International flight delays at Pearson airport jump by factor of almost 300
-
Pearson travellers waiting hours to deboard plane, greeted with long lines at customs
Conservatives have been calling for an end to COVID restrictions and criticizing the government for not anticipating the spike in travellers.
Alghabra has previously said the government will make decisions on COVID measures in consultation with health officials.
