Reporting on Results

Pre-board Screening

PBS Wait-Time Service Levels

CATSA screened an estimated 25.1 million passengers in 2021/22, which represents a 258% increase from 2020/21 traffic. CATSA operations have remained resilient and have continued to adapt to the dynamic travel patterns and evolving domestic and international health measures.

In 2021/22, CATSA delivered a wait-time service level (WTSL) where, on average, approximately 91.6% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to be screened at Class 1 airports on an annual basis. It is important to consider that this performance reflects an average of the WTSL at Class 1 airports across the country. Longer wait times will occur during peak periods, when checkpoints experience higher traffic volumes, or as a result of the implementation of new health and safety measures at security screening checkpoints. CATSA worked collaboratively with industry partners, such as airport authorities and airlines in order to limit the impact of new health and safety measures on screening operations and wait times.

CATSA Plus

CATSA Plus security screening lines enable a more streamlined and effective security screening process and improved passenger experience, as compared to standard PBS screening lines. The benefits of CATSA Plus lines include higher passenger throughput, which directly contributes to creating a more seamless security screening experience for travellers. There are now 83 CATSA Plus lines deployed across seven of the Class 1 airports; more than 60% of the travelling public is now being screened on CATSA Plus screening lines. During 2021/22, one new CATSA Plus line was installed in Calgary, and new CATSA Plus software was installed on screening lines at several airports.

Full Body Scanner as a Primary Screening Tool

CATSA has continued with its important initiative to enhance security screening by using FBS as the primary screening tool for passengers (also known as FBS Primary). The project has focused on relocating existing FBS machines into primary screening positions at PBS checkpoints. Used in combination with walk-through metal detectors, the FBS Primary screening process enables an efficient flow of passengers through even the busiest checkpoints. It is anticipated that this initiative will reduce the proportion of physical searches required and that close contacts will decrease at the checkpoint when traffic levels are higher. As well, the FBS Primary initiative contributes to Canada’s goal of continued harmonization with CATSA’s international counterparts, including the United States Transportation Security Administration.

In 2021/22, FBS units were relocated as the primary screening tool at checkpoints at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Additional FBS Primary units also became operational at Edmonton, Ottawa and Halifax international airports as checkpoints reopened.

PBS Innovations and Recapitalization Lifecycle Management Project

CATSA relies on a variety of technological components at PBS checkpoints to ensure the safety and security of passengers travelling. These critical components must be maintained and replaced in accordance with CATSA’s lifecycle management practices to ensure a high level of effectiveness in security screening and to stay abreast of changing trends in screening technology. One such trend in security screening is the use of computed tomography (CT X-ray). CATSA conducted the evaluation of CT X-ray on a CATSA Plus line at its test facility and will move the equipment to an airport to conduct an operational trial in early 2022/23.

As CATSA is preparing to embark on the next stage of its PBS lifecycle management plan, it will take advantage of technology advancements to heighten security effectiveness, building on the successes of CATSA Plus. More specifically, the recapitalization of PBS equipment is expected to lead to the procurement of new equipment that will have improved detection capabilities and lower false alarm rates. In turn, this could also result in a reduction in divesting requirements. CATSA will start replacing its fleet of FBS units with a newer model in 2022/23 and the organization intends to start replacing its fleet of PBS X-rays the following year.

Non-passenger Screening

In support of changes made to the NPS-V Traffic Management System, CATSA has developed a training simulator to facilitate more effective training. In addition, the use of advanced analytics have allowed CATSA to better understand the impacts of procedural changes being considered for both PBS and NPS. More specifically, detailed simulation models were developed to evaluate potential screening bottlenecks, which has supported CATSA’s ongoing efforts to provide more efficient and uninterrupted screening.

CATSA’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

CATSA continues to align its health and safety measures with guidance provided by federal and provincial public health officials. The organization has implemented biosecurity measures including enhanced sanitization at checkpoints, physical enhancements to checkpoints, revised screening procedures, physical distancing measures, and personal protection equipment for screening officers and CATSA staff, as well as other measures to anticipate and mitigate COVID-19 risks.

Acrylic Barriers

CATSA employed the use of acrylic barriers to limit close-proximity contact between screening officers and the travelling public. The organization has deployed acrylic barriers at 73 airports across the country.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UV-C) Systems

CATSA completed a successful airport trial of a UV-C sanitization system for a CATSA Plus screening line in 2021. The trial tested short-wavelength ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate micro-organisms, including bacteria and viruses on bins used by passengers at PBS. CATSA is currently working with the supplier and Health Canada to ensure the UV-C system meets all the regulatory requirements. Once the UV-C system is authorized for use in Canada, CATSA will install it on all CATSA Plus lines.

Federal Government Vaccine Requirements

In October 2021, the Government of Canada announced a mandatory vaccination requirement for passengers and non-passengers. Transport Canada instructed CATSA to verify that passengers and non-passengers possess proof of vaccination for an interim period. CATSA’s role in this regard ended on or before February 2022, depending on the airport.

Temperature Screening

In 2020, Transport Canada directed CATSA to conduct temperature screening of all passengers and non-passengers entering restricted areas of 15 designated airports. Nearly nine million individuals were screened as part of this program between July 2020 and August 2021, when the program ended. All temperature screening equipment has since been removed from the airports.

Screening Workforce Recovery Plan

In early 2020, CATSA developed a screening workforce recovery plan which continued to evolve throughout the pandemic. The plan includes a multitude of measures and initiatives aimed at hiring and retaining screening officers. More specifically, the organization worked closely with its screening contractors and Transport Canada to retain a large percentage of its screening officer workforce in spring 2020, and commenced additional efforts in May 2020 to bring back the screening officers that were laid off, in preparation for the eventual recovery of the civil aviation industry. Furthermore, screening contractors have offered various incentives since winter 2021 in preparation to the rebound of passenger traffic.

CATSA Workforce

Since March 2020, the majority of CATSA’s headquarters workforce shifted to working from home, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the workforce remains resilient, CATSA has focussed on modernizing its workplace, including exploring innovative solutions to improve the employee experience in the digital environment.

In 2021, CATSA completed a Flexible Workplace Strategy targeted for implementation in spring 2022. As such, CATSA has undertaken a project to consolidate its headquarters workspace to ensure it enables future collaboration, provides a seamless technology experience and accommodates ergonomic needs and wellbeing.

CATSA’s regional employees have continued to carry out their duties at designated airports throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They effectively responded to a dynamic environment by implementing health and safety measures including physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. CATSA regional employees continued to demonstrate dedication, resilience and agility.

Training and Certification

CATSA implemented modifications to screening officer training during the COVID-19 pandemic, suspending the delivery of non-essential training while assessing opportunities to reduce the need for in-person contact during the delivery of training, minimize employee travel and respect physical distancing protocols. These methods included reducing class sizes and reviewing options for delivering training and assessments remotely. Further, CATSA created training programs to explain the new screening and personal protective equipment requirements for all screening officers, supervisors and CATSA regional staff. This training has been integrated into the training for all new screening officers, and as part of the return-to-work activities for returning officers.

CATSA continues to explore measures to onboard returning screening officers as efficiently as possible, including the development of an expedited return to work program.

Continued Optimization of Screening Equipment and Procedures

In late 2021, CATSA issued a request for proposal for its maintenance service provider contract. The necessary transition planning is well underway to ensure the ongoing and high quality maintenance of CATSA’s security screening equipment. CATSA also continued its efforts to improve the performance of its security screening equipment. For example, additional work was done to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in CATSA’s screening operations as it relates to maintenance.

Cyber Security

CATSA continues to evolve and enhance its cyber security capabilities, awareness initiatives and program maturity in an effort to meet the demands of the ever-changing cyber security landscape. The organization conducts regular software patching and updates to workstations to address potential vulnerabilities. In addition, threat risk assessments are regularly conducted to ensure key systems remain secure. CATSA is expanding its training and awareness campaign for employees and will include targeted training to educate employees on emerging threats and the evolving cyber security landscape.

A number of IT security initiatives are regularly undertaken including maturity and readiness assessments as well as tabletop exercises. Tabletop exercises were conducted in early 2022, in which the objective was to provide CATSA with the opportunity to test its business continuity and incident response plans and procedures in order to improve the organization’s cyber and operational resilience, and incident preparedness plans.

Tara Tost
Advisor, Service Delivery, Prairies Region

I look back at the past sixteen years that I have been working at CATSA and I am proud of all that we have accomplished. During my time at CATSA, I have witnessed the implementation of hold-baggage screening, non-passenger terminal and vehicle screening, full body scanners, the Boarding Pass Security System and vaccination verification. With each new security requirement that CATSA is responsible for implementing, we research and purchase new equipment, and provide screening officer training. We develop communications, and meet with stakeholders. We ensure that the processes and training are being deployed correctly, providing oversight and follow-up. In my opinion, CATSA’s greatest accomplishment is the team of employees who have been able to come together in all branches to deliver these changes over the years in such a short timeframe. I have no doubt that CATSA will be able to adapt and respond to whatever future challenges come our way, and I am very proud to be part of such a resilient organization.

Marc Vachon
Manager, Service Delivery, East Region

I remember when I first started working at CATSA, back in January 2003, we were only about a hundred employees. Our organization has evolved over the years, as it rose up to numerous challenges related to civil aviation and terrorism, namely the 2006 terrorist plot in the United Kingdom that targeted airliners heading to North America involving liquid explosives. Everything changed after events such as this one. In fact, CATSA implemented the liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions in record time. Most recently, we had to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again, we had to put in place unprecedented health measures. In the regions, that meant providing and wearing masks and other personal protective equipment, instituting sanitizing practices, and implementing temperature screening of passengers and non-passengers as well as vaccination status verification. Because of its resilience and adaptability, our organization is a great place to evolve in.