New Pearson screening

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Nearly 6 million people fly to the United States from Pearson International Airport each year and the airport has unveiled a new facility to screen those passengers. It’s an update to their pre-clearance system to speed up wait times and enhance security.

Pearson Airport is the fourth busiest air-entry point into the United States. The lines to get through customs used to be pretty long, but this new system has switched around the order of security measures to get through to your gate. The airport says it will improve passenger flow while enhancing security for everyone. In the past, travellers would go through customs before security, but Canada’s transport minister says the order has changed around.

“We go through normal security clearance like we all do and then when you get to American customs you’ve already been screened at least for security.”

It will ensure the safety of passengers and the customs officers. The protocol will make certain the people passing through and their bags meet aviation security standards before approaching an officer. Travellers who have been through the new screening order say it shortens the wait time. The airport has added double the amount of kiosks and says it’s the biggest change for people flying and what used to be the first is now the last step, speaking with a customs officer.

The US Ambassador to Canada says the change took two years to implement. This move comes a month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Bill C-23, which implements the land, rail, marine and air pre-clearance between the United States. The Director of Field Operations for US customs says going forward they will turn to Pearson Airport as an example and that Toronto is a leader in security.