Canada Urged to Create Digital Air Travel Strategy

by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 3:30 PM ET, Wed October 8, 2025

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) published a report as part of pre-budget consultations indicating that Canada needs to step up its game when it comes to biometrics and digital IDs for air travel. With the ETAIS finally posed to come into effect in Europe and many other countries implementing similar digital IDs, the statement from the CAC that it is time to "accelerate the adoption of a digitization strategy for air travel in Canada that is in line with digitized travel experience embraced in other countries,” seems timely.

Related: Europe’s New Entry/Exit System to Begin October 12: What Canadians Need to Know

Biometric Update reports that Canadian airports have been “slow to offer travellers a full biometric check-in and boarding experience, even though many airports have installed the required equipment.”

The news article notes that before Canadian airports can fully introduce and implement the technology, the government would need to amend the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Act to allow security officers to verify passengers’ identities. 

On top of that, the Secure Air Travel Regulations (SATR) would need to ensure digital IDs are recognized.

The report from CAC also states that expensive NEXUS cards should be phased out in favour of solutions that follow international standards such as digital travel credentials, 

“Air travel is growing and passenger demands are evolving and travellers want a seamless, predictable and digitized journey,” said Monette Pasher, President of the Canadian Airports Council. “We must meet these demands with investment in infrastructure growth and smart policies and regulations.” 

Related: IATA Calls for Digitization of Aviation Security