August 24, 2023

Travellers at Halifax Stanfield can now benefit from two new security screening lanes, YHZ Express powered by CLEAR, and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority’s (CATSA) Verified Traveller program, both of which will improve the overall travel journey.

YHZ Express
YHZ Express and the RESERVE program allows departing travellers from the domestic/international terminal to reserve a dedicated time slot for security screening as early as 48 hours before their flight, mitigating wait times and adding convenience to the airport experience.

“Summer is one of the busiest times of year for air travel in Canada, including at Halifax Stanfield, and all airport partners are working hard to make the travel journey as smooth as possible,” said Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). “We’re thrilled to offer this new service for our travellers who want to plan and maximize their time at the airport prior to their flight.”

Reservations are now available for YHZ Express for travel scheduled as early as Friday, August 25.  To make a reservation with YHZ Express visit https://yhz.whyline.com/. Travellers must enter their flight details and the number of people in their group to view available times.

Once they arrive at the airport, travellers can proceed to the YHZ Express checkpoint at security screening, where they will access the designated lane for YHZ Express using their assigned QR code.

“This expansion of RESERVE is a reflection of the demand we have seen across Canada for a more predictable and seamless travel experience,” said Kasra Moshkani, CLEAR’s EVP of Operations.

This new program is free to use, and reservations and walk-up appointments are available daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at security screening. Halifax Stanfield partnered with CLEAR and Copenhagen Optimization and now joins 18 other airport locations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe that offer the appointment-based system.

“YHZ Express and the RESERVE program is unique in the sense that it brings real benefits to the airport security experience for everyone,” said Kasper Hounsgaard, Co-CEO and founder of Copenhagen Optimization.

To learn more about YHZ Express and to book a spot, visit https://halifaxstanfield.ca/yhz-express/

Verified Traveller
Adding to the security screening services offered at Halifax Stanfield, this week also marked the launch of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority’s (CATSA) Verified Traveller program, which provides travellers who have undergone extensive background checks with added benefits at select security screening checkpoints across Canada. The program is being pilot tested by CATSA at Halifax Stanfield.

Those who qualify as Verified Travellers include cardholders or members of the following groups:

• Nexus
• Global Entry
• Military
• Air crew / Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC) holders
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) / Police

The Verified Traveller program comes with multiple benefits including a designated queue and screening line during peak hours, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and front-of-the-line service at all other times. Verified travellers are also permitted to leave items in their carry-on and on their person.  For more information on the Verified Traveller program and hours of operation, visit https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/verified-travellers.

“CATSA is pleased to be trailing a dedicated Verified Traveller screening line at Halifax Stanfield Airport,” said Nancy Gagné, CATSA’s Director, Service Delivery East. “We are always looking for ways to improve the passenger experience at security screening checkpoints.”

For more information on security screening at Halifax Stanfield and the various programs available, visit https://halifaxstanfield.ca/travel-planning/security-screening/.