System outage at Canadian airports causes customs delays for travellers

International travellers passing through several major Canadian airports are experiencing customs delays due to a nationwide system outage affecting inspection kiosks, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

“Earlier this afternoon, the Canada Border Services Agency began experiencing a system outage affecting primary inspection kiosks at multiple Canadian international airports,” a CBSA spokesperson told CBC News.

“This outage was caused by an unforeseen technical issue during routine systems maintenance and we are working to restore connectivity as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson added in a statement released on September 28.

The outage has disrupted the flow of travellers at some of Canada's busiest international hubs, including Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Calgary International Airport. Authorities at these airports have issued advisories on social media, warning passengers of potential delays at customs.

Vancouver International Airport has also been affected. A spokesperson there told CBC News the kiosks are down, but the impact so far has been limited to “slightly longer than normal” customs clearance times, with no major disruptions reported.

In response to the outage, the CBSA has redirected travellers to manual processing lines for customs clearance.

The agency says it is working closely with airport authorities to manage the situation and reduce wait times.

“Safety and security standards are upheld at all times, with border services officers working to verify travellers' identities, receive their declarations and conduct any additional screening warranted by each traveller's individual circumstances,” the CBSA said. “We thank travellers and stakeholders for their co-operation and apologize for any inconvenience.”

By Sabina Mammadli