Interim Order: Air Travel COVID-19 Rules

Summary#

The federal Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, No. 38 (made by the Department of Transport on August 28, 2021) sets rules for people boarding flights to and within Canada during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It focuses on health checks, required COVID‑19 molecular test results for international arrivals, mandatory mask use, and penalties for breaking the rules.

What it does#

• Requires air carriers and private operators to tell every person before boarding that they may face federal or provincial COVID‑19 measures and, for international arrivals, to provide vaccination or quarantine information to the Minister of Health under the Quarantine Act.
• Says every traveller must confirm that they understand those possible measures. Competent adults can confirm for minors or people who cannot confirm themselves.
• Prohibits boarding for some people:
  • Foreign nationals cannot board flights to Canada unless they are permitted under an order made under the Quarantine Act.
  • People who show certain COVID‑19 symptoms (for example a fever plus cough or breathing difficulty) may be denied boarding.
  • People who refuse required confirmations or health‑check questions can be refused boarding and may be barred from flying for 14 days unless they provide a medical certificate.
• Sets testing rules for flights to Canada:
  • Travellers must show evidence of either a negative COVID‑19 molecular test performed on a specimen collected no more than 72 hours before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure, or a positive test taken between 14 days and 180 days before departure.
  • Tests must have been done in a country or territory not listed in Schedule 1. Schedule 1 lists India and Morocco; the rule explicitly applied to flights departing Morocco beginning August 29, 2021 at 00:01 a.m. Eastern daylight time.
  • Documentation must include name, date of birth, laboratory name and address, collection date and method, and the result.
• Requires masks:
  • People aged 6 years and older must have a face mask before boarding and must wear it during boarding, the flight, and while leaving the plane until they enter the terminal (with limited exceptions).
  • Children under 2 years are exempt. Children aged between 2 years and 6 years must have a mask available and wear it if they can tolerate it.
  • Crew, gate agents and screening officers generally must wear masks, with some operational and safety exceptions.
  • Screening authorities and staff must require masks during security screening and may require temporary removal for identity checks or screening procedures.
• Requires record‑keeping and reporting:
  • Air carriers must record and keep details of passengers who refuse to comply with mask instructions, and report certain incidents to the Minister.
  • If carriers suspect false test results, they must notify the Minister with the passenger’s name and contact details.
• Establishes enforcement and penalties:
  • Many contraventions are designated for administrative monetary penalties. Amounts include up to $5,000 for individuals and up to $25,000 for corporations, with a few offences carrying up to $25,000 in maximum penalties for individuals.

Who's affected#

• Passengers on flights within Canada and on flights to Canada from other countries.
• Air carriers and private operators (airlines and charter companies).
• Airport gate agents, screening authorities and aerodrome security staff.
• Crew members (pilots, flight attendants), who have mask requirements with some exceptions.
• People travelling from or with tests done in India or Morocco (tests from those countries may not be accepted under this order).
• Foreign nationals trying to board flights to Canada (they are barred unless an exception applies under the Quarantine Act).

Why it matters#

• Travellers need to plan: bring required test evidence, vaccination/quarantine info if asked, and masks that meet the order’s description. Missing documents or refusing checks can mean being denied boarding, fined, or banned from flying for 14 days.
• Airlines and airport staff must enforce the rules and keep records. That can slow boarding and increase the chance of travel delays or denied trips.
• The order aims to reduce COVID‑19 risks linked to air travel by tightening who can board and what proof they must carry.