airport toronto

Toronto's Pearson Airport goes back on policy to divide travelers by vaccination status

Toronto Pearson International Airport has quickly gone back on a controversial move it made just days ago regarding unvaccinated travelers.

As air travel continues to ramp up, the airport planned to "help streamline the border clearance process," it told multiple local news outlets in a statement last week, by separating fully vaccinated and partially or unvaccinated passengers into different lines, as they face different entry criteria and processes.

Those who can provide proof of full inoculation with a federal government-approved COVID-19 shot are as of earlier this month able to bypass the mandatory hotel quarantine, as well as 14-day quarantine requirements if they are also asymptomatic and can provide a negative test result.

Those who have only had one jab or are not vaxxed at all, meanwhile, are still subject to more stringent measures including those named above, which leads to a much lengthier clearance at customs.

The step to divide the two groups was a logical one, but was met with more backlash than the airport was expecting, it seems, as it has now reversed the decision.

"Toronto Pearson, in collaboration with the government and other partners, has determined that separation of vaccinated and partially/non-vaccinated travellers in customs lines results in minimal operational efficiencies," airport management said in a statement issued Sunday night, per CTV News.

"As such, the practice will be ceased as of July 26, 2021, with entry requirements based on vaccination status being enforced once a passenger reaches Canada Border Services."

Given that Canada is opening its borders to fully immunized U.S. citizens and permanent residents on Aug. 9, as well as fully vaxxed travelers from other international destinations on Sept. 7, people can expect that Pearson and other airports will be a bit of a mess as staff and passengers get used to new procedures. (Then again, it kind of already is.)

Whether this vaxxed/unvaxxed lineup idea would have made things easier and better organized, we'll never know.

Lead photo by

@torontopearson


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Traffic around Toronto's Gardiner Expressway is about to get a whole lot worse

Lineups for the ferry from the Toronto Islands are already packed and chaotic

Someone tried to help at scene of Ontario crash and had their car stolen immediately

This race proves whether it's faster to 'ride the loop' on TTC subway or walk

Ontario is home to a second venomous snake species you may not know about

There's a new worst road in Ontario but Toronto's nightmare street is still up there

People are complaining about another feature of Toronto's declining waterfront attraction

Canada Child Benefit increasing soon and you could get nearly $7,800 per kid