Passengers flying to India from Canada face tighter security measures

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Amid continuing tension between New Delhi and Ottawa, passengers travelling from Canada to India will be subjected to extra security screening.

Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand says the decision is based on “an abundance of caution,” reports the CBC.

“Transport Canada has implemented temporary additional security screening measures,” Anand said in a statement issued on Monday evening.

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In view of the new protocols, Air Canada has warned passengers bound for Indian destinations of longer security wait times and asked them to reach airports at least four hours before their scheduled departure, reports New Delhi TV.

Air Canada sent out notifications of the measures over the weekend to passengers bound for Indian destinations, reports the Hindustan Times.

In October, an Air India flight bound to Chicago from New Delhi was diverted to Iqaluit because of a bomb threat. An inspection didn’t turn up an explosive device.

However, Anand’s office did not connect that incident with the new measures.

This security announcement comes a month after the RCMP claimed Indian government agents have been complicit in crimes in Canada, including murder, extortion and intimidation. India has denied the RCMP’s allegations and said they were “simply not true.”

Since then, both countries have expelled each other’s top diplomats.

India-Canada ties remain tense due to Canada’s accusation that India was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was designated by India as a terrorist. India maintains that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan groups operating on Canadian soil, says NDTV.

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In November 2023, general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun for the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) released a video warning Sikhs, in Punjabi, “Don’t fly Air India after November 19, your lives may be in danger.” In October 2024, he issued a similar threat: “Don’t fly Air India from November 1-19.”

He said he was “calling for a boycott” of the airline — not issuing a threat, reports the Times.

However, India’s High Commission in Ottawa formally raised the threat with the Canadian government and Transport Canada increased security for Air India flights at Canadian airports.

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