After British police announced on Aug. 10, 2006 that they had foiled a plot to blow up commercial aircraft flying from Britain to the United States, security was beefed up at Canadian airports.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority imposed stricter measures starting midday – including a ban of almost all liquids and gels on carry-on luggage for flights within the country, and to and from the United States and Britain.

As a result, security officials made more checks for such items and passengers could be seen rummaging through their luggage to discard such products.

Transport officials said the new restrictions would be in effect for 72 hours, but could be extended.

On Aug. 13, 2006, aerosols and juice were added to the list. Prior to that, passengers were allowed to board with juice for babies and small children.

As of Saturday, Aug. 19, Transport Canada allowed certain duty free liquids, including alcohol, perfumes and aerosols, to be purchased at the airport and transported, but only under strict conditions.

• For all flights departing Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal for the U.S., duty free liquids, gels and aerosols must be transferred to checked luggage before a passenger proceeds through the screening process. These airports have pre-clearance services for duty free items.
• For all other Canadian flights bound for the U.S. and the U.K. duty free goods like these may be available depending on the airline but passengers will only receive their purchases at the end of the flight. Travelers are urged to check with airlines in advance.
• For other international flights, the rules can vary. Some airlines will allow duty free liquids, gels and aerosols to be taken on board with carry-on luggage but only if the goods are delivered to passengers after the boarding gate and while getting on the aircraft.

However, some travellers have complained to CBC News that transport officials have been confiscating items not on the list, including non-prescription medications in pill or tablet form, solid deodorants and lip balm sticks.

But Nils Dolstra, media relations analyst with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, told CBC News that these items do not need to be seized.

"They’re not on the list, and there is a ban in place purely for liquids and gels, items of a liquid consistency, and aerosols," he said.

Dolstra also said that travellers with concerns can bring them up at the screening line, or contact CATSA's information line, 1-800-294-2202.

Canada's airport security agency

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is a Crown corporation created in April 2002 with the responsibility to screen airline passengers at Canadian airports. Air traffic security was the responsibility of the airlines until the corporation took control on Jan. 1, 2003. CATSA contracts the screening to private security companies.

CATSA employs more than 4,000 security screeners and in 2004 they intercepted 738,000 prohibited items, such as scissors, pocket knives, kerosene and turpentine.

CATSA operates four training centres in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax and St. John's, N.L. to teach staff how to effectively conduct pre-board screening.

CATSA also works with the RCMP to put undercover police officers on some flights.

CATSA is in part by a funded by a security charge on every flight. The charge was initially $12 but was reduced to $7 per flight. In March 2005, the charges were changed to $5 each way for domestic flights, $8.50 each way for flights to the U.S. and $17 for international flights.

CATSA, Transport Canada, which sets airline security policy, and Air Canada have the following tips to get you through airport security smoothly.

• Air Canada and Transport Canada urge passengers to check with the airline to ensure the flight is scheduled and then follow up shortly before leaving home to confirm the flight is on time.
• Bring photo identification – preferably your passport – when travelling, regardless of destination.
• Do not wrap or package gifts so as to ensure easier inspections by security personnel.
• Pack lightly and travel with as little baggage as possible to reduce processing time at the airport.
• Leave any non-essential electronics, including hair dryers and electric razors, at home.
• Essential electronic devices such as laptop computers and cellphones must be packed in carry-on baggage.
• Diabetics and others who may have to carry needles and other medical devices need a doctor's note stating that they have the disease and listing the medical items the person needs to have with them.
• Passengers should arrive one hour before departure time for a domestic flight and two hours before an international departure.
• Air Canada does not recommend flying without reservations, although stand-by passengers will be accommodated if possible.
• Airlines now collect five pieces of information prior to the passenger boarding: the person's full legal name, gender, date of birth, nationality and travel document number.
• Passengers are limited to one carry-on bag and a pocketbook or briefcase.
• Passengers should have photo ID – preferably their passport – to accompany their boarding pass at the gate.
• Before boarding the plane, passengers can pack razors, tweezers, eyelash curlers and nail clippers in their carry-on luggage. However, straight razors, box cutters, metal scissors, ice picks, metal nail files, corkscrews, bats, golf clubs, pool cues, ski poles and hockey sticks are forbidden.
• CATSA will allow you carry on one lighter intended for personal use, unless you are travelling to the United States, where lighters are banned from aircraft. You can carry safety matches on your person on flights in both Canada and the U.S. You can't check matches or lighters in your luggage, and strike-anywhere matches are forbidden both in checked and carry-on luggage.
• Passengers should limit the amount of metal they carry with them, and remove all metal objects before going through the X-ray machine at security checkpoints.
• When flying, wear long pants, avoid flammable synthetic fibres and never wear high heels.
• Pay close attention to the flight attendants' demonstration before takeoff. Read the safety feature cards and watch the safety video.
• Before takeoff, take the time to familiarize yourself with the location of emergency exits. Flight attendants say it is often dark and noisy in a crash so it's a good idea to count the number of seat rows between you and the exit so you can find it in the darkness. Look down for emergency lighting to show the way.
• In the event of an evacuation, leave everything behind. Experts who have studied crashes say passengers have died because they wasted time reaching for their carry-on luggage. Also remember that flight attendants are trained to yell at you.
• If there's smoke, stay low but hurry. It takes only 20 seconds for the seats to decompose in a fuel fire. It takes another 10 seconds for poisonous fumes to fill the cabin.