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Partial U.S. federal shutdown disrupts pre‑clearance at major Canadian airports
Several Canadian airports have suspended parts of their U.S. pre‑clearance operations after a partial shutdown of the United States federal government. The disruption affects cross‑border processing for passengers bound for the United States.
Airports in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa posted notices saying access to NEXUS and Global Entry pre‑clearance services is currently unavailable. Local authorities warned travellers to expect longer lines at U.S. customs and to allow extra time for connections.
Who is affected? Passengers departing from the listed airports for U.S. destinations who normally use expedited entry programs. What changed? Onsite NEXUS and Global Entry facilities are not operating at full capacity, reducing the usual throughput for pre‑clearance lanes.
Where and when? The notices apply to the four named airports and were posted as the federal shutdown took effect. The airports did not provide a timeline for restored services.
Why it matters: Pre‑clearance lets travellers complete U.S. immigration and customs checks before departure. Without it, travellers face processing on arrival in the United States, longer wait times and potential missed connections.
From an ESG perspective, travel disruptions can amplify carbon and time costs when passengers rebook or extend layovers. Sustainability is a business case for resilient operations that reduce such knock‑on effects, and airlines and airports may need contingency plans to limit emissions and passenger inconvenience.
Authorities advise passengers to check airline and airport websites for updates, carry documentation that supports expedited entry eligibility and consider alternate travel arrangements where possible. Airlines are responsible for assisting travellers with connections and rebooking when schedules are affected.
Airports said they will post further notices as federal staffing levels change and services are restored. Travelers should monitor official channels for the latest operational information.
What travellers need to know
Airport operators and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the suspension of some pre‑clearance programs is linked to the ongoing U.S. funding lapse. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Global Entry would be suspended while the partial shutdown remains in effect.
Airports have updated public guidance and posted changes on official channels. Passengers who normally use expedited lanes are being asked to allow extra time at the terminal. Staff advised travellers to consider alternatives, including mobile apps that can speed processing and standard arrival lanes.
Who is affected: travellers who rely on pre‑clearance and trusted‑traveller programs. What to expect: longer processing times and reduced availability of expedited services. Where: affected at Canadian airports with U.S. pre‑clearance facilities. Why: the measures follow the U.S. partial funding lapse and corresponding DHS directive.
Practical steps for travellers: check airline and airport websites before leaving for the airport; arrive earlier than usual; download any recommended mobile processing apps; and carry paper copies of documents where possible. From an operational perspective, airports recommend travellers complete any online check‑in and health declarations in advance.
From an ESG perspective, border and airport resilience depends on clear contingency planning and digital readiness. Leading operators have understood that improving mobile and remote processing reduces passenger risk during service interruptions.
Travel hubs will update procedures as federal agencies provide further guidance. Monitor official CBSA, DHS and airport announcements for the latest operational information. The next change will depend on federal funding decisions and agency directives.
Operational impacts at airports
The next change will depend on federal funding decisions and agency directives. Airport operators and customs agencies must now manage longer queues.
Service suspensions affect access to NEXUS and Global Entry at U.S. pre‑clearance facilities in Canada. NEXUS expedites crossings for pre‑approved low‑risk travellers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. Global Entry allows pre‑approved travellers faster re‑entry to the United States via automated kiosks. When these services are unavailable, travellers who normally clear customs in minutes may face standard processing times.
Operational consequences include increased processing times, reallocation of staff, and pressure on domestic arrival areas. Airports may need to repurpose space used for pre‑clearance to handle inbound passenger flows. Airlines could face scheduling knock‑on effects if arrivals are delayed at customs.
From an ESG perspective, disruptions highlight the need for resilient border services that reduce unnecessary passenger time and emissions from idling aircraft. Sustainability is a business case when evaluating investments in automated processing and contingency staffing. Leading companies have understood that operational continuity supports both customer experience and environmental goals.
Practical steps airports and carriers can take immediately include deploying additional agents at arrival halls, increasing signage to guide affected travellers, and communicating delays through airline channels. Use of mobile notifications and real‑time queue estimates can mitigate passenger uncertainty and reduce crowding.
What travellers should expect
Passengers should anticipate longer waits and follow airline and airport guidance. Those enrolled in NEXUS or Global Entry should carry standard travel documents and arrive earlier than usual. Travelers with tight connections should contact their carriers to explore options.
Travelers with tight connections should contact their carriers to explore options.
Airports advised specific measures as pre‑clearance services were reduced. Calgary International Airport asked departing customers to allow extra time for U.S. Customs processing. Toronto Pearson recommended using the Mobile Passport Control app as a temporary measure to speed arrivals and departures. Vancouver International Airport cited the partial U.S. government shutdown as the reason it suspended access to both NEXUS and Global Entry at its pre‑clearance facilities.
Background: why the suspension occurred
Agencies linked the service interruptions directly to the partial U.S. government shutdown. The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed the connection in correspondence with multiple media outlets. Reduced staffing and curtailed cross‑border operations at U.S. pre‑clearance posts led to limits on trusted‑traveller programs.
From an operational resilience perspective, the disruption highlights how federal funding gaps can ripple through international travel chains. Airlines and airports must manage longer queues and reroute passengers when pre‑clearance capacity falls. Leading companies have understood that contingency planning reduces commercial disruption in such events.
Authorities advised travelers to check official airport and agency channels before departure. Agencies said they will update guidance if federal funding or staffing conditions change.
How much time can travellers expect to lose?
Agencies warned that processing times at customs and security checkpoints could lengthen immediately while the partial shutdown continues. Staffing gaps at enrolment centers have already halted Global Entry renewals and new enrollments since Feb. 14. Airports and carriers said delays are most likely at ports handling international arrivals and preclearance services.
Officials have not published a uniform projection of added wait times. Local conditions will vary by airport, flight schedules and staffing levels. Expect longer lines and slower processing for travellers who normally rely on expedited programs.
Practical steps can reduce risk of missed connections. Contact your airline to reconfirm tight connections and ask about rebooking options. Allow extra time for arrivals and departures. Keep digital copies of travel documents and prepare for manual processing at border control.
From an ESG perspective, travel disruption highlights resilience gaps in critical public services. Sustainability is a business case for operators and airports to invest in redundancy and digital processing that reduce sensitivity to staffing shocks. Leading companies have understood that contingency planning lowers both passenger disruption and operational costs.
Authorities said they will update guidance if federal funding or staffing conditions change. Travellers should monitor official channels for real‑time notices before departure.
Travellers should monitor official channels for real‑time notices before departure. When Global Entry is unavailable, the time advantage for eligible passengers evaporates. Industry estimates indicate expedited processing typically reduces customs time to roughly five to ten minutes, compared with an average of 30 to 90 minutes in regular lines. With the program offline, those savings disappear and waits at pre‑clearance facilities can lengthen substantially.
Opportunities and alternate arrangements
Passengers should build extra margin into travel plans. Allow additional time for connections and arrival at the airport. Airlines and ground handlers may adjust procedures; check carrier notifications and airport advisories before leaving home.
Practical steps include using airline mobile check‑in and real‑time alerts, moving to earlier flights where possible, and preparing documents for quicker manual inspection. Families and groups should consolidate documentation to speed group processing.
From an ESG perspective, restoring efficient processing matters beyond convenience. Faster throughput reduces idle time and associated emissions from vehicles and airport services. Sustainability is a business case when operational delays generate higher fuel use and ground congestion.
Some airports may deploy additional staff or open extra lanes to ease congestion. Leading companies have understood that flexible operational plans mitigate passenger disruption. Travellers should confirm options with airlines and pre‑clearance authorities and factor potential delays into itineraries.
Nexus enrollment continues at select sites despite expedited lane suspension
U.S. CBP and Canadian CBSA officials said the suspension affects existing members who planned to use expedited lanes, but enrolment and some in‑person services are continuing at select locations.
That continuation included a joint NEXUS enrollment event at King County International Airport‑Boeing Field (KCIA) from Feb. 24 through Feb. 26. The event gave conditionally approved applicants a window to complete interviews and finalise membership.
Applicants seeking NEXUS must apply through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) system, pay the listed fee of $120 for five years, and schedule an interview after receiving conditional approval.
Authorities advised travellers to confirm local appointment availability before travelling to an enrolment site and to factor potential delays into itineraries.
Sustainability is a business case: from an ESG perspective, streamlined cross‑border processing can reduce idle time and lower emissions associated with extended waits at ports of entry.
From an ESG perspective, streamlined cross‑border processing can reduce idle time and lower emissions associated with extended waits at ports of entry. Travelers using U.S. pre‑clearance facilities should consult local CBSA office information before travelling.
For example, Edmonton International Airport lists a 24‑hour CBSA presence and states that U.S. customs pre‑clearance is available there. Operational hours and services can change quickly during shutdowns or staff adjustments. Verify current operations with the airport or the CBSA before you travel.
Practical tips before you fly
Sustainability is a business case: reducing wait times at pre‑clearance points lowers emissions and improves passenger experience. From an operational standpoint, airlines and airports can realize cost savings by minimising delays.
- Check the airport website and the CBSA page for the latest pre‑clearance status.
- Confirm opening hours for the local CBSA office, especially at smaller airports.
- Allow extra time at the airport in case pre‑clearance lanes are reduced or closed.
- Carry digital copies of travel documents; some offices offer mobile processing updates.
- Contact your carrier if you need clarification about where pre‑clearance occurs or how to proceed on arrival.
Contact your carrier if you need clarification about where pre‑clearance occurs or how to proceed on arrival. Allow extra time at airports that normally offer NEXUS or Global Entry. Use apps such as Mobile Passport Control when accepted by the port of entry. Monitor official airport and government social channels for operational updates.
If you are a conditionally approved NEXUS applicant, seek special enrolment events where available and complete interviews only by appointment. Stay flexible: processing capacity can change quickly while pre‑clearance services are affected by the partial U.S. government shutdown.
From an ESG perspective, streamlined cross‑border processing reduces idle time and lowers emissions linked to extended waits at ports of entry. Sustainability is a business case that aligns traveller convenience with lower environmental impact. Leading companies have understood that operational resilience supports both service quality and carbon reduction.
For ongoing updates, consult the official websites and social accounts of your departure airport, the CBSA and CBP. Review travel advisories before heading to the terminal to confirm current procedures and expected wait times.