Aviation industry leaders to review airport security screening speed

Members of the Canadian Airports Council and airlines have established a high level steering committee: the Airport Pre-Board Screening Efficiency Team. This team will conduct an industry-led study focused on identifying possible ways to speed up screening at security screening checkpoints by reviewing processes and technology without compromising the security of travellers. The results of this study are expected in a few months. Recommendations will be made to the Government of Canada once a review is completed.

The nine member team includes representatives from airport authorities and airlines, specifically:

• Craig Richmond, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority;
• Tom Ruth, president and CEO, Edmonton Airports;
• Mark Laroche, president and CEO, Ottawa Airport Authority;
• Howard Eng, president and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority;
• Sam Samaddar, airport director, Kelowna International Airport;
• Daniel-Robert Gooch; president, Canadian Airports Council;
• Ed Baklor, vice president, guest services, Westjet;
• Nick Careen, vice president airports, call centres and customer relations, Air Canada; and
• Veronica Gerson, ministerial policy and stakeholder advisor, will participate as an observer on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

• The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) was established in 2002, following the terrorist events of 9/11/2001. The Crown Corporation screens passengers and their baggage, non-passengers and administers access control to airport restricted areas.
• In 2012, CATSA’s 5,400 screening officers screened more than 51 million passengers at 106 checkpoints and 311 screening lanes at Canada’s designated airports.
• The 2010 CATSA review resulted in improvements in the flow of passengers and their baggage, allowing CATSA to increase passenger throughput by 30 per cent from 90 to 120 passengers per lane, per hour at Class I airports during peak periods.

“Canadian airports strive to make air travel pleasant, efficient and safe, and an essential element of that experience is the safe and timely screening of passengers. To ensure that Canadian airports remain competitive and grow as global gateways, continued CATSA funding is essential, as is strong partnership with our airlines and federal government agencies,” said Craig Richmond, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority

“I trust the Airport Pre Board Screening Efficiency Team will find efficiencies that can be implemented without undue cost to Canadian travellers. Transport Canada will provide appropriate supports to this team,” said Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport