Since Christmas, it appears that flyers bound for the U.S. from Canada are going to have to pack a little lighter. In the wake of an attempted attack on Delta Airline Flight 253, Canada has tightened security in the nation’s airports, brought to my attention by an article in The Globe and Mail. After further reading, my understanding is that the alleged attack occurred on Christmas Day in Canada’s Airspace, 20 minutes before landing in Detroit.

As a response, Transport Canada released a statement after the incident stating that passengers flying from Canada to the U.S. will not be able to bring carry-ons. However, there are a few exceptions:

Passengers may carry with them one or more of the following items: medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, items for care of infants, laptop computers, crutches, canes, walkers, containers carrying life sustaining items, a special needs item, musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags.

They also warn that flyers should expect delays as a result of the increased security.

I am still unsure whether this is the case for passengers on stopovers from other countries, or if it is just passengers leaving Canada for the U.S. However, I will keep my eyes peeled and ears to the ground for any updates.

Until then, travel light.

By Brit Weaver

About the Author

Toronto born and based, Brit is an avid leisure cyclist, coffee drinker and under-a-tree park-ist. She often finds herself meandering foreign cities looking for street eats to nibble, trees to climb, a patch of grass to sit on, or a small bookstore to sift through. You can find her musing life on her personal blog, TheBubblesAreDead.wordpress.com.

Posted on January 05, 2010 by Brit Weaver