Montreal's airport authority is promising service will improve this summer for international travellers arriving at Trudeau airport.
Last summer, wait times at customs sometimes exceeded one hour.
Now, about 15-20 per cent of travellers who have a boarding pass for a connecting international flight will be ushered through to a new connection centre introduced Thursday.
Travellers will see one of the 10 agents in that room, a move that is expected to help relieve some of the volume from the large primary inspection hall.
About 20 new staff members will also be placed at strategic locations to direct passengers and relieve any confusion about where to go.
The Canadian Border Services Agency is promising that it will also have an increase in personnel during specific hours when agents are needed.
Wait times in customs lines will also be posted for travellers.
In November, passengers will also be able to use new, more powerful automated kiosks so that passengers can use an app to make their e-declaration on the plane before arricing at customs.
Pierre-Paul Pharand, the airport operations and infrastructure vice-president of the Aeroports de Montreal said he feels the $6 million investment is adequate and is confident it will improve wait times.
“I’m very confident with what we’ve done. If we were to stick to the flight schedule, it would be no problem, but we know there are times when problems will arise. It only requires a lightning alert, let’s say, in Paris, then you’ve got all of the flights grounded for 30 to 45 minutes. We know the ballgame’s not over but it’s going to become more difficult, because those flights will arrive 45 minutes late,” he said.
"Summer 2017 is shaping up to be very busy. We will not compromise on security and enforcement of Canadian laws. However, to make the arrivals process easier for travellers while ensuring proper monitoring, we have developed new border management practices, and implemented innovative technologies and processes to increase our efficiency and processing capacity. These innovations are possible thanks to the strong working relationship we have built with ADM over the years," said Maurizio Mannarino, the acting directors of the airports district of the CBSA, in a statement.
The ADM said over 90 per cent of travellers entering Canada through TrudeauaAirport wait less than 20 minutes at primary inspection, but admit that can increase at peak periods and due to weather delays.
