In 2025/26, over 70 million passengers were screened at CATSA security checkpoints with 96% waiting less than 15 minutes at major airports, and 91% reporting a positive screening experience. These results reflect continued progress in delivering secure, efficient, and reliable screening for passengers.
Accelerated investments in technology and automation improved the passenger journey and strengthened screening effectiveness. This included deploying 56 computed tomography (CT) X-ray machines at nine airports, modernizing checkpoints, enhancing detection capabilities, and helping passengers move through the screening process more smoothly.
These upgrades were complemented by improvements to accessibility and passenger communications, including bilingual facilitator support. Targeted communications campaigns and a redesigned website were deployed to help passengers better understand the screening process and prepare for travel, enabling them to navigate checkpoints with greater ease and confidence. Together, these efforts supported the secure and reliable movement of people and goods across Canada’s air transportation network.
Behind these results, CATSA collaborated with government and industry partners to advance key priorities including strengthening security, driving innovation and improving the passenger journey. Transport Canada, CATSA’s regulator, played a critical role by enabling regulatory approvals, supporting relief measures, and validating new screening technologies.
CATSA continued to strengthen and adapt its approach to cybersecurity, working with federal partners to address evolving threats and reduce potential impacts.
Screening Operations – By the Numbers
- 89 designated airports (71 active) across the country
- 111 pre-board screening checkpoints
- Over 300 pre-board screening lines, including:
- 82 CT X-ray units
- 23 family and accessible lines
- 12 verified traveller lines
- 129 hold baggage screening checkpoints and 114 non-passenger screening checkpoints
- Over 9,300 third-party screening personnel and 175 bilingual facilitator positions to assist travellers
- 512 full-time equivalent CATSA employees that supported program delivery, oversight, training and technology development and deployment
Key Actions and Progress
- Secured supplementary funding for 2026/27 through close collaboration with government partners, underscoring confidence in the organization’s forward-looking strategy.
- Exceeded security effectiveness targets, reinforcing the strength and reliability of Canada’s screening system.
- Introduced flexible checkpoint solutions through pilot deployments of the modular CATSA Plus concept, improving operational efficiency and passenger throughput at space constrained checkpoints.
- Deployed additional full body scanners to enhance security effectiveness.
- Improved CATSA’s communications and passenger preparedness through communications campaigns and website re-design, helping passengers to better understand the screening process and prepare for travel.
- Applied advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to strengthen oversight and operational efficiency, including traffic forecasting, and modernized screening analytics.
- Enhanced organizational capacity and workforce readiness by aligning leadership development, training, wellness and recognition initiatives, and workforce planning with CATSA’s strategic priorities and diversity objectives.
- Strengthened aviation ecosystem collaboration through updated partner engagement strategies and improved data sharing.
- Improved accessibility and inclusion initiatives through the deployment of bilingual facilitators at major airports, targeted engagement with accessibility advocacy organizations, and the publication of the Accessibility Plan 2026 to 2029.
- Promoted and supported the use of both official languages at screening checkpoints and in the workplace through engagement with Official Language Minority Communities and implementation of an internal Official Languages Action Plan.