Flying with Cremated Remains

As of July 26, 2013, Transport Canada has introduced regulatory changes that will require the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to follow new procedures for screening cremation containers. These procedures are similar to what has been in effect and practiced by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for several years now:

• A Letter of Content, Cremation and/or death certificates will no longer enable a passenger to carry the container of cremated remains through security and onto a plane without the screening the cremation container.

• CATSA officials must now screen every cremation container transported as carry-on baggage using the x-ray machine to ensure there are no prohibited items inside. If it is not cleared by the x-ray machine, it may not be permitted past the security checkpoint and onto the flight.

• Out of respect for the the deceased, screening officers are not allowed to open cremation containers at any time, even if requested to do so by the passenger, nor will they inspect the contents if the container is opened by the passenger.

• If x-ray screening of a cremation container results in an alarm but the passenger states the container is empty, the screening officer can ask the passenger to open it and verify that there are no prohibited items inside.