New COVID-19 testing rules could cause ‘chaos’ at Canadian airports: industry groups
Global News
Industry groups are warning Canada's new travel rules around testing for the Omicron variant could cause "chaos" at Canadian airports during the holiday travel season.
Canada’s plan to require COVID-19 tests for all but U.S. arrivals on international flights risks causing “chaos” and long lines if all passengers are expected to get tested at airports, industry groups said.
The move, announced Tuesday, comes as the travel season kicks into gear and could stretch airport resources as well as testing holiday-makers’ patience, they said.
Daniel Gooch, president of the Canadian Airports Council, said airports cannot test all overseas arrivals on-site without long wait times.
“Do we really want people waiting for hours for a test in a customs hall?” he asked by phone on Wednesday.
“We want to avoid chaos. And we want to ensure that travelers who have booked trips are comfortable to travel.”
Canada on Tuesday said it will require people arriving internationally by air, except from the United States, to take a COVID-19 test, seeking to halt the spread of the Omicron variant.
Currently, only randomly selected passengers from international flights are tested at airports by private companies the government contracts.
The announcement came as the country’s aviation sector, battered by the pandemic, had been looking forward to a stronger holiday season this year.