The Canadian federal government announced today that the benefits of being a NEXUS, trusted traveler program, card holder would be increasing significantly. Members of program will now have extended benefits when travelling from four of Canada’s major and busiest airports.

At the Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Calgary airports, NEXUS members will now have dedicated security lines. These dedicated security lines will only be open to NEXUS holders, uniformed air crew and members of the Canadian and US armed forces. Not only will these passengers have a dedicated line but they will also get through security checks quicker as they will not have to remove their shoes, belts or light jackets unlike all other passengers. They will also be permitted to leave their liquids, aerosols and gels in their carry-on bags rather than having to remove them from their bags and placing them in a separate transparent bag as all passengers currently do.

It does seem these benefits only apply if you are travelling to the US for the time being, which does make sense as the NEXUS Trusted Traveler Program is a partnership between Canada and the United States.

Upgraded customs clearing terminals for NEXUS holders are also now available at all Canadian airports which will expedite the process of going through customs upon arriving in Canada. These terminals are available no matter what country you are arriving from and are not contingent on arriving from the US.

Full press release below:

 December 17, 2014 - Toronto, ON

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport along with Roxanne James, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced new initiatives aimed at making air travel to the United States even easier for NEXUS members and other low-risk Trusted Travellers who have undergone extensive background checks. Minister Raitt also encouraged travellers to use a new holiday travel toolkit to enable faster and more convenient holiday travel.

During Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) security screening, Trusted Travellers are now able to access dedicated lines at four of Canada’s busiest airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto (Pearson Terminals 1 and 3), and Montréal. At these lines, Trusted Travellers have access to faster security screening, for instance, not having to remove shoes, belts, hats, light jackets; and keeping permitted liquids, aerosols and gels in carry-on bags.

In addition, to facilitate clearing customs, upgraded Trusted Traveller kiosks are now installed in all airports in Canada where NEXUS is available. At Canada’s busiest airports, the CBSA has also installed more kiosks to accommodate the growing popularity of the program. These upgraded kiosks will provide faster, more reliable and efficient service.

These new kiosks will improve the flow of travel in Canada’s busiest airports and make air travel more convenient for all air passengers while still maintaining a high level of security.

Minister Raitt also encouraged all travellers to access a new portal on Canada.ca/HolidayTravel to enable faster and more convenient holiday travel. Drawing important information from across government, it provides links to user-friendly tools like the Current Border Wait Times table and the Travel Smart app for consular information and assistance abroad.

Quick Facts

• Dedicated CATSA security screening lines are now available for transborder flights at Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto (Pearson Terminals 1 and 3), and Montréal airports.

 

• Trusted Travellers eligible to use these security screening lines include members of NEXUS and Global Entry programs and Canadian and US military, and aircrew in uniform with valid ID.

 

 

• Trusted Travellers must still comply with screening rules for prohibited items.

 

 

• The NEXUS program is a bi-national program administered in collaboration with the United States.

 

 

• NEXUS membership benefits to air travellers include:
  • expedited screening or front of queue service at CATSA checkpoints in Canada for domestic, transborder, and international flights; and

   

• self-serve kiosks to clear customs and immigration.

 

 

• The NEXUS program has more than 1,100,000 members as of December 2014

 

 

 

Quotes

 

“In working with our aviation security partners in Canada and the United States, our government is committed to safe and secure travel. We will continue to strengthen both the security and efficiency of our aviation system.” The Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport

“Our government remains committed to ensuring that air travel remains safe for all Canadians while continuing to look at ways to help make travel through our airports more convenient. These new upgraded NEXUS kiosks will provide NEXUS members with faster, more reliable and efficient service while also helping to make travelling through Canada’s busiest airports more convenient by improving the flow of travel for all air passengers.” Roxanne James Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Sources: Government of Canada