Like 89 other airports across Canada, the Iqaluit airport beefed up security measures and added new equipment that may damage film and cause delays for tardy passengers.

To avoid problems, Transport Canada is advising passengers to arrive on time, pack film in carry-on baggage only and to familiarize themselves with the list of prohibited items, such as nail files, scissors, razors, knitting needles and cork screws.

Ram Friram, manager of Northsite Security -- the company that holds the contract for Iqaluit airport security -- said people need to arrive on time and proceed directly through security to keep things moving.

"Don't wait until the last second," he said. "The security things you have to do will take more time."

New equipment, new rules

On Dec. 31, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSCA, assumed responsibility for pre-board screening in Canadian airports, covering 99 per cent of air traffic. In Iqaluit, CATSCA has been deploying equipment and financing security since last April. Now CATSCA has full operational control.

The transition has been pretty smooth, said Iqaluit airport manager John Graham.

"I haven't heard anything yet," he said of customer complaints. "Everything is running smoothly."

Northsite Security has held the airline security contract since 1995. Now the company will assume a government contract and fulfil the new duties by increasing Iqaluit employees from five or six to 12.