35K holiday travellers expected daily at Calgary International Airport
In spite of a surging Omicron variant causing change and confusion in the travel industry, Calgary International Airport (YYC) is expecting 35,000 guests per day over the holiday period, from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3, 2022.
Recognized as the busiest period of the year, the Calgary Airport Authority is asking guests to be fully prepared to navigate through holiday travel at YYC. This includes understanding COVID-19 testing and safety policies, packing permitted items and having patience while making their way through large holiday crowds.
"We recommend to everyone they check ahead about the testing to the jurisdictions to which you are travelling, and check with your airline about testing procedures," said Calgary Airport Authority spokesperson Chris Miles.
"We are seeing the public health agency and other partners responding to the growth of different variants of concern and we are working with them to ensure the proper testing requirements are in place."
Travellers returning from international destinations are also advised to ensure they have the most up-to-date version of the ArriveCAN app to gain entry into Canada.
"There's been some issues with the app, every time there's an update we get some issues," said Lisa White of the Canadian Border Services Agency.
"Have that plan B in place, try and have paper copies of everything or take a screen shot of the verification code when you've completed the ArriveCAN submission, that will help officers to get you through the terminal."
All foreign nationals five years of age and older and Canadians five years of age or older who re-enter Canada after more than 72 hours away must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test (PCR) to enter Canada.
As well, all travellers arriving by air from anywhere but the U.S. will be tested on arrival and will need to self-isolate while they wait for their test results.
On top of navigating through the several layers of restrictions and tests, travellers will also be contending with large crowds.
Prior to the pandemic, 2019 was a banner year and saw 50,000 daily guests grace YYC corridors undertaking holiday travel. This year, 35,000 are expected during the holiday period.
"We've worked hard over the past 20 months to provide a safe and secure experience for our guests during the pandemic, and we'll continue to support our partners and regulatory partners to maintain that experience for holiday travellers," said Miles.
More information on Canadian travelling requirements can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
At least 13 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least 13 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.