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4. One Carry-on item Allowed for Flights to the United States

One Carry-on item Allowed for Flights to the United States

No. H007/10
For release - January 19, 2010

OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird today announced that airline passengers who are travelling to the United States are now permitted to bring one carry-on bag with some small exceptions. This new measure replaces the temporary restriction on carry-on bags introduced as a result of the December 25, 2009 security incident on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Following the incident, Transport Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) accelerated its actions to protect air travellers. In addition to introducing carry-on bag restrictions, Transport Canada quickly took action to issue security notices, invest in full body scanners and announce our intention to implement a screening method known as behaviour pattern recognition.

The new one carry-on bag rule takes effect on January 20, 2010 in all Canadian airports.

“The Government of Canada is strongly committed to ensuring that air travel is safe and secure, but also to ensure passengers have a reasonable level of comfort and convenience during their trips,” said Baird. “The public has been extremely patient and cooperative with the measures mandated by the United States. Effective today, there is a new and practical carry-on rule for passengers travelling to the United States, which upholds important security considerations.”

The new rule modifies restrictions in place for flights to the United States only and does not have an impact on passengers travelling within Canada or to an international destination. 

As a general rule, passengers are reminded to check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (www.catsa.gc.ca) or their airline for items that are permitted in carry-on luggage.

FOR BROADCAST NEWS:

Changes to carry-on luggage restrictions were announced today by Canada's Transport Minister John Baird. Effective on January 20, passengers travelling to the United States are permitted to bring one carry-on bag, with some small exceptions. All items brought on the aircraft such as reading material, personal electronics, medications must be stored in the passenger’s single carry-on bag.  This new measure replaces the temporary restrictions on carry-on bags introduced as a result of the December 25th 2009 security incident. Passengers can check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or their airline for further information.

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Date modified:

2010-05-28

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