Carry-on bag allowed on flights from Canada

TORONTO - Canada Wednesday allowed passengers one carry-on bag on US-bound flights.

Tighter security measures, which included physical searches at the gate of the plane and ban on any carry-on bags, came into force following the aborted bid to bomb a US airliner in Detroit on Christmas day by an al-Qaeda-linked Nigerian man.

Allowing the carry-on bag, the authorities said it should not be bigger than 23 centimetres by 40 centimetres by 55 centimetres.

“Effective today, there is a new and practical carry-on rule for passengers travelling to the United States, which upholds important security considerations,” said Canadian transport minister John Baird.

As per new security regulations, passengers bound for the US can also carry a purse or laptop or briefcase or camera bag along with the carry-on. But they will have to pack all their personal items - books or magazines, personal electronic devices and medical prescriptions - in the carry-on bag before undergoing security checks.

Since more people from Canada than other countries travel to Canada each day, the tightened security measures led to chaos and frayed tempers at the country’s airports.

Though the situation has eased after the holiday rush, Canada is now introducing full-body scanners to ensure full-proof security.

The government is buying 44 imaging scanners to be installed at airports.

These scanners will search people by using electromagnetic waves which scan a person through clothing to detect hidden objects. Canada has also been put on alert following recent intelligence reports that terrorists are trying to enter the US through the country.

Intelligence agencies from British and the US warned Canada earlier this month that 20 Yemeni-trained terrorists are trying to enter North America.

Canada has often come under criticism for lax security at borders, and there is still perception among many Americans that the 9/11 terrorists came from Canada.