Air Canada's first priority is to ensure the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft by maintaining the highest safety standards and pursuing every opportunity to enhance security.
Not surprisingly, Air Canada was named the Safest Airline in the World (September 2000) by an independent, UK-based aviation safety consulting firm in an analysis of more than 500 airlines.

Air Canada fully supports heightened security measures taken by Canadian authorities since the events of September 11 and continues to work with the appropriate authorities to ensure full compliance with these measures.

The following is a summary of Air Canada security enhancements and procedural changes following the events of September 11.

• Air Canada was the first airline in Canada to initiate a flight deck security enhancement program with the introduction of reinforced cockpit doors. Air Canada began retrofitting cockpit doors on October 19, 2001 and completed retrofitting the entire fleet on November 13, 2001.
  
• Air Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian government, met special, enhanced security procedures required to operate into Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. after September 11. Air Canada service to Washington resumed on November 12, 2001 with the presence of RCMP officers on board. The presence of RCMP officers on board Air Canada flights has been expanded beyond flights to/from Reagan National Airport. However, we cannot go into this in further detail as it is counter-productive to your safety.

Security Procedural Changes:

• Air Canada implements the Transport Canada requirement that adults (passengers over 16 years of age) provide government issued photo identification for all flights to all destinations; without it, travel may be refused. Ticketed passengers under 16 years of age require non-photo identification, such as a birth certificate.
  
• Since January 18, 2002, U.S.-bound passengers are required to provide basic personal information as a result of new U.S. regulations. Air Canada is required to adhere to A.P.I.S. (Advanced Passenger Information System) which requires the collection of five basic pieces of information from each passenger travelling to the U.S. This information is provided to U.S. Customs before the aircraft lands at its destination.
  
• Upon check-in for a U.S. destination or for a flight with a travel itinerary that includes a U.S. destination, passengers are asked to provide their full legal name, gender, birth date, nationality and travel document number. A valid passport remains the preferred document for all travel outside of Canada, however all currently acceptable valid travel documents for entry into the U.S. are still acceptable.
  
• Air Canada recommends the following passenger check-in times: 30 minutes for Rapid Air flights, 60 minutes for all other domestic flights, 90 minutes for transborder flights and two hours for international flights.

Transport Canada sets all standards and devises procedures for ensuring passenger security at all airports in Canada. Implementation of these procedures for Air Canada operations is shared between Air Canada and airport operators. While airlines are responsible for hiring specialized security firms to implement passenger screening for example, Transport Canada is responsible for training and monitoring the work of the security firms.

Based on Transport Canada regulations, Air Canada provides the following advice to passengers to assist in security screening:

All electronic devices such as cellular phones or laptop computers must be in full working order to avoid confiscation by security. All electric devices such as hair dryers should be packed in checked baggage, or, if possible, left at home. Electronic and electric items may be tested at security, causing delays and possible confiscation.
Knives or "knife-like" objects or cutting instruments of any kind must be packed in checked baggage. Toy guns, toy knives and most sports equipment must be checked.
Passengers travelling with gifts are advised to leave them unwrapped as wrapped items may be unwrapped at security checkpoints

Effective October 13, 2001, Transport Canada's carry-on luggage allowance was revised on all flights to all destinations and is now limited to one carry-on bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, laptop or backpack. Duty-free and airport purchases are included in these allowances.

Positive bag matching is the requirement that passengers fly on the same flight as their checked baggage. If a passenger checks a bag but does not board the aircraft at departure time, his or her checked bag must be removed from the flight, a process that may result in delays.

Since 1986, Air Canada has been compliant with Transport Canada's requirement for positive bag matching on international and transborder flights. Since September 11, Air Canada has been compliant with Transport Canada's requirement for positive bag matching on all domestic flights. Positive bag matching is now in effect on Air Canada flights to all destinations.