Canadian airports let transfer with duty free

Toronto and Montreal airports are to allow EU passengers to transfer with duty free LAGs. Other Canadian airports are to follow soon

From April 30, passengers flying from the EU who have connecting flights in specific Canadian airports operating under the reciprocity rules will be able to take duty free liquids and gels bought in European airport duty free shops on their connecting flights as hand luggage provided that they are packed in sealed, tamper-evident bags and display clear proof of purchase within thirty-six hours of the time of sale. Until now, all passengers travelling from the EU were unable to take duty-free liquids purchased in the EU onboard transfer flights at Canadian airports.

The new rules will be rolled out over the course of 2010 with Toronto Pearson International taking the lead as the first airport to introduce reciprocity on April 30. Montreal Trudeau International is scheduled to adopt the new procedure as of May 31.

Transport Canada will announce the extension of reciprocity to other airports in Canada when those decisions have been taken.

European Travel Retail Council president Frank O’Connell says: “Canada’s introduction of reciprocity rules for travellers from the EU for Toronto and Monteal is a very welcome step forward. This is good news for European duty-free retailers, which should expect a boost in sales as transfer passengers become confident that their duty-free purchases will not be confiscated. In the near future we are confident that these rules will be extended to other Canadian gateway airports.

“I am particularly pleased to see equivalent rights being granted by Canada to passengers originating in Europe. This decision follows the recent introduction of a similar agreement with Malaysia earlier this month and I now hope that the United States will follow Canada’s lead in extending reciprocity to passengers travelling from the EU.”

April 2010

1 April 2010 - Felicity Murray