COVID-19 rules for air travel and airports

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published a set of Transport orders (issued May 19, 2022) that lay out COVID-19 rules for air travel and for people who work at many Canadian airports. The same issue also notes that the Beaver Valley Chamber of Commerce of Thornbury and District changed its name to The Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce (Order in Council dated May 16, 2022).

What it does#

• The Interim Order for Civil Aviation Respecting Requirements Related to Vaccination Due to COVID-19 requires people boarding flights from a long list of Canadian aerodromes to be “fully vaccinated” (defined as having completed a vaccine regimen at least 14 days earlier). It:
  • allows specific, limited exceptions (for example, young children under 12 years and four months, certain recent arrivals in transit, and people with approved medical or religious accommodation);
  • requires airlines to ask for and verify vaccination or approved-test evidence and to refuse boarding when passengers can’t provide required evidence;
  • requires airlines and aerodrome operators to keep records (for example, retain some records for 12 months and copies of exemption requests for 90 days);
  • requires aerodrome operators, air carriers and NAV CANADA to create vaccination policies for staff and contractors, including procedures for medical and religious accommodations and testing of unvaccinated workers (typically testing at least twice every week).
• The Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, No. 63 adds rules about testing, masks and travel confirmations:
  • people on flights to Canada may need to show negative COVID-19 test results taken within 72 hours (PCR) or one day (antigen), or a prior positive PCR taken between 10 days and 180 days earlier, when those tests are required by quarantine orders;
  • masks are required in many parts of the airport and during flights, with standard exceptions (very young children, medical reasons, or when eating/drinking);
  • private operators and carriers must notify and obtain confirmations from travellers about possible federal or provincial public-health measures and quarantine requirements;
  • foreign nationals are broadly barred from boarding flights to Canada unless permitted under quarantine-related orders.
• Both orders list the aerodromes they apply to (Schedule 1 includes major airports such as Toronto (Lester B. Pearson International) CYYZ, Vancouver International CYVR, and Montréal (Montréal — Pierre Elliott Trudeau International) CYUL).
• The notices set administrative penalties for violations, with maximum penalties listed at $25,000 and $5,000 depending on the offence.

Who's affected#

• Passengers who plan to board flights departing from the airports named in the orders. They may be denied boarding if they cannot show required proof of vaccination or test results.
• Airline companies and private flight operators. They must check evidence, refuse non-compliant travellers, keep records, and notify authorities when they suspect false evidence.
• Airport operators, contractors and staff, and NAV CANADA employees whose duties involve airport or flight operations. They must follow workplace vaccination policies or comply with frequent testing and other measures.
• Screening authorities and security personnel at the named aerodromes.
• Some government departments are specifically referenced (see Schedule 2 in the orders), including Canada Border Services Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
• The general public and anyone travelling through the listed airports should take note; the exact list of affected airports is included in the orders.

Why it matters#

• Travellers leaving from many Canadian airports need to plan ahead: have vaccine proof or valid test results in the right format and within the specified time windows, or they risk being turned away.
• Airport and airline workers face new workplace rules that can affect whether they must be vaccinated or submit to regular testing, and employers must keep detailed records.
• The orders create possible fines and administrative penalties for people and organizations that fail to comply, and they centralize requirements for many major airports across Canada.
• These are interim orders made under the Aeronautics Act to address COVID-19 risks (issued May 19, 2022) and they replace earlier, related interim measures; travellers and industry should check with their airline or airport for the current, practical details before travel.