Passengers must provide proof of vaccination or negative test to fly from YLW –

Photo: YLW

Kelowna International Airport is now requiring all passengers 12 and over to show proof of vaccination on international and domestic flights, as mandated by Transport Canada.

As of Saturday, all passengers are required to provide proof of one of the following to the airline they are travelling with:

• Full vaccination status
• COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of the flight (only accepted until Nov. 29)
• Medical or religious exemption to vaccination and a test taken within 72 hours of the flight

There will be a transition period until the end of November, allowing for passengers to provide a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of their flight, if they are not fully vaccinated.

Passengers are encouraged to speak directly with their airline carrier for answers to any questions about providing proof of vaccination.

For passengers requiring a COVID-19 molecular test, YLW has partnered with Whitecap Medical to provide on-site COVID-19 PCR testing.

YLW has also mandated that all employees working in the terminal building are to be fully vaccinated as of Nov. 15, 2021, in accordance with the Transport Canada mandate. The policy also applies to any non-passengers entering the area of the terminal beyond security screening, and tenants whose companies perform functions tied to aviation.

“Vaccinations are essential to reduce the risk of serious illness and limit the spread of COVID-19. These vaccination requirements are a necessary step to ensure the health and safety of everyone travelling through and working at YLW,” said Airport Director Sam Samaddar.

Samaddar also says the new policy doesn’t replace the health and safety measures already in place at YLW:

• Masks be worn at all times in the public areas of the terminal
• Frequent sanitizing of high-touch areas such as check-in kiosks, handrails and door handles, luggage carts and wheelchairs
• Hand sanitizer stations available throughout the terminal
• Protective barriers implemented at customer service areas and self-serve check-in kiosks
• Floor decals, adjusted queuing areas and announcements to help passengers keep their distance from each other, wherever possible
• Reduced seating capacity and physical distancing between tables when dining in
• Encouraging passengers to choose touchless check-in and payment options when possible