Even as B.C. and other provinces have eased COVID-19 restrictions, if you’re planning on travelling by air, you’ll still want to hold on to those masks and vaccine passports.

Kamloops Airport Managing Director, Ed Ratuski, says it is because airports are federally regulated by Transport Canada.

“Masks are still mandatory within the terminal going through the screening process and in the hold room and on the aircraft as well,” he said. “With the provincial announcement, nothing really changes for the passenger’s journey from what we’ve been experiencing over the last couple of years with COVID.”

Speaking to NL News, he was asked if there is any indication when these restrictions could be lifted.

“We’ve asked those same questions of the federal government on a regular basis and we’re told right now that it is status quo as far as vaccination and masking requirements go, and no specific timeline on when that will be lifted,” he said.

Ratuski also notes the airlines are also calling on the Federal Government to lift all testing requirements at the border.

“That would benefit the industry more so than the masks and the vaccination requirements because internationally vaccination for travel is required anyway,” Ratuski said. “We are seeing where there could be efficiencies gained in term of lessening the testing requirements coming back into Canada.”

But he notes there is no indication when these restrictions will be lifted.