The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) have completed a number of enhancements at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, Canada, to improve the flow of US-bound Pre-clearance passengers while meeting the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulatory requirements.
The two-year Security in Advance (SIA) project involved reconfiguring the security area so that passengers can check their baggage before moving through security screening and CBP processes. The project also added 28 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks in Terminal 1 (T1) to further streamline the immigration process.
The Pre-clearance program makes it possible for travelers to clear US customs and immigration processes and get advanced approval to enter the USA before boarding their flights. This helps to expedite the passenger’s departure process and reduces congestion at the airport.
Howard Eng, president and CEO, GTAA, said, “Prioritizing the passenger experience is at the heart of everything we do at Toronto Pearson. With the launch of this initiative, our security and Pre-clearance processes have become more efficient and passenger-friendly due to enhancements like additional security screening lanes and software that enables more passengers to use our APC kiosks.”
Angus Watt, president and CEO, CATSA, said, “Security in Advance is a great example of how industry partners can successfully collaborate to ensure the passenger experience at Canadian airports is as seamless as possible.”
Randy Howe, director of the Pre-clearance Field Office, CBP, said, “CBP is proud to be a part of this collaborative project that will streamline the Pre-clearance process for the millions of travelers that fly through Toronto to the USA each year. This very important program began in Toronto more than 60 years ago and we are pleased to be able to add to our history at Toronto Pearson International Airport.”