Domestic air traffic resumes; limits still placed on international flights

OTTAWA (Sept. 12, 2001) — Diverted traffic will be released for travel to their destinations and that domestic air travel within Canadian airspace will resume immediately, Transport Minister David Collenette announced this afternoon.

Diverted flights formerly scheduled to land in the United States will still require clearance from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to do so. More than 200 domestic and foreign flights were diverted yesterday to more than a dozen Canadian airports as a security measure.

“These flight restrictions in Canada have been lifted as our assessment of the safety and security of Canadian airspace now warrants this action,” Collenette said. “Affected flights will be cleared to proceed as soon as the airports and air navigation systems can accommodate these movements and airlines are prepared to resume operations.”

He told travellers to expect delays due to increased police presence at major airports, increased passenger screening and enhanced baggage security procedures.