Here are the latest COVID-19 measures if you’re flying out of Toronto Pearson airport

UPDATE (March 14, 2022): The story below was written to reflect the rules at the time of original publication.

The recent opening of the Canada-United States land border to nonessential visitors marks the latest easing of COVID-19 travel measures, and with colder weather on the horizon, flights to warmer destinations could increase.

But for those who haven’t flown in the past several months, pandemic-related precautions are still in full force at Canada’s airports.

Here’s what you should know about the current COVID-19 regulations at Toronto Pearson International Airport:

Things to know before takeoff

With varying COVID-19-related entry requirements across the world, make sure you double-check the latest rules for the country you’re visiting. Click here to access the Toronto Pearson International Airport’s COVID-19 information page where all destinations are listed (scroll down to travel restrictions and visa requirements).

However, COVID-19 tests (rapid, PCR etc.) are still a requirement for many countries. If you can’t complete your test before you’re set to travel or need a replacement test, services are available at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The clinic is located at the Value Park garage and bookings can be made through Switch Health.

For those flying to the United States, a negative viral COVID-19 test (e.g. rapid antigen) is required for entry into the country (unlike crossing through land ports of entry where a negative test is not required).

Citing increased time for screening, officials recommended being inside the airport at least 90 minutes before take-off if you’re flying domestic and at least three hours if you’re flying to an international destination.

“On the day you’re flying, you can either check our Twitter feed or your airline as well to see if there are any delays. We’re heading into winter, so of course, there could be some weather delays,” Tori Gass, a spokesperson for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, told CityNews during a recent tour.

You can also click here for real-time information on all departing flights and click here for the status of arriving flights.

Arriving at Pearson and check-in

As part of the airport’s public health measures, visitors accompanying travellers into the departures level and those looking to pick up travellers from arrivals are still, for the most part, not allowed to enter inside the airport.

However, there are visitor exemptions for those who are accompanying minors and to assist people who have issues with mobility.

Masking requirements continue to remain in place except for people under two, those who can’t remove a mask on their own or have a medical condition that makes wearing a mask difficult, and for those who are consuming food or drink.

While check-in procedures are different for each airline, there has been a shift toward contactless check-in. Air Canada at Terminal 1 is mostly do-it-yourself with agents available to assist if needed.

“As soon as they check-in, our customers can now do their check-in 24 hours in advance. As they do it, they can now select the number of bags that they’re going to be checking in. And as they come in here, what they’re going to see is a touchless check-in process,” Martin Bessette, the manager of premium lounges with Air Canada, told CityNews.

“So basically you arrive in front of the machine, it’s asking you to scan your boarding pass … You scan it (and) as soon as it’s scanned it’s going to print out your luggage tags automatically. Once that has finished, you install the tags onto your piece of luggage (before dropping it off at the conveyor belt).”

Proof-of-vaccination requirements

According to Government of Canada regulations, air passengers are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and it will be up to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (which conducts screening at Toronto Pearson International Airport) and airline personnel to confirm the status of vaccination.

Up until Nov. 29, passengers could show proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test (e.g. a PCR test) in order to get on an airplane (there are limited exceptions for things like medical reasons, emergencies, and for people to access designated remote communities).

As of Nov. 30, anyone who hasn’t started or completed the COVID-19 vaccination process could be denied boarding if they don’t meet limited criteria for exemptions.

Public health measures, contactless ordering at the airport

Throughout the course of the pandemic, staff at Toronto Pearson have been adding various devices and measures designed to assist with reducing the chances of virus transmission as well as cleanliness.

Aside from the basics such as hand sanitizer stations and blocking off select seats to help ensure physical distancing, Gass said staff have been utilizing ultraviolet lighting for disinfection.

For example, there are CleanSlate UV machines throughout the terminals you can put your phones, tablets or other devices with hard surfaces into and in roughly 30 seconds your items are cleaned.

Gass said UV lights have been installed to clean all handrails for escalators and moving sidewalks. She also said UV lighting has been integrated into the HVAC systems to assist with air quality.

When it comes to ordering food, drinks and/or duty-free items, Gass said several businesses in the airport are now on UberEats to allow for ordering in advance. She also said you can have items delivered within the terminal too.