Ottawa Airport warns travellers to expect delays over the holiday season

The Ottawa International Airport (File photo)

The Ottawa International Airport is warning travellers may face delays at "various parts of the travel process" at the airport over the holiday season, as COVID-19 guidelines impact staffing levels.

Thousands of travellers are expected to travel through the Ottawa airport on domestic and international flights over the holiday season.

Ottawa Public Health says new guidelines from the Ontario government state if you have one symptom of COVID-19, you and everyone in your household must self-isolate for 10 days.

"It's nice to see that people are getting back to travel but I think they can certainly expect some changes, especially as we're feeling some of the impacts of the Omicron virus on staffing levels across the airport. We're losing some staff who are going into self-isolation," said Krista Kealey, Ottawa International Airport Vice-President of Communications.

"People who are travelling can expect some delays, and perhaps a little bit of a lineup that they're not accustomed to seeing since they've been back to travel."

The Ottawa International Airport says the Omicron variant is affecting staff in all areas of the airport, which could result in delays and long line-ups.

"This issue could affect various points in the travel process, including check-in, security screening, baggage loading, aircraft marshalling, fuelling, de-icing and incoming baggage delivery, among others," said the airport in a statement on Thursday. "Please understand that everyone is doing their best during these challenging circumstances to make the travel process as smooth and enjoyable as possible."

If you are travelling, the airport recommends arriving early and having all necessary documentation available and ready for inspection. All passengers and employees must wear a mask in the airport, and are encouraged to practice physical distancing.

Travellers aged 12 and older must provide proof of vaccination to board a domestic or international flight.

Kealey tells CTV News Ottawa that the Ottawa International Airport is averaging 3,300 passengers boarding departing flights each day over the holidays. That's down from 7,000 to 8,000 people a day over the holidays before the pandemic.

"We're definitely seeing people are still travelling. I think anybody who made a travel plan to visit family or loved ones over the holidays a lot of them are still pressing on with those plans. It is nice to see that there's some life in the terminal," said Kealey.

For more information on travelling during COVID-19, visit www.yow.ca/recovery.

The federal government is advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel abroad regardless of their vaccination status.