Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 24/01) - Air freight is beginning to trickle into Nunavut communities, as traffic slowly returns to normal.

While both passengers and shipped goods found themselves grounded for several days after last week's terrorist attacks, cargo was held up longer and was under tighter restrictions when airspace reopened.

Transport Canada didn't lift restrictions on cargo shipments until Sept. 14, four days after all air traffic in North America was grounded.

Both major Northern carriers reported significant changes to the way cargo is shipped.

Initially, First Air and Canadian North were not permitted to fly both passengers and cargo in what are known as split-configuration, or "combi" flights. That restriction was later lifted.

Tracy Beeman, director of marketing and sales for First Air said that, while cargo is moving, "the airlines have more to do behind the scenes," including stepped-up inspections of all cargo shipments.

Transport Canada has set up a "situation room" to deal with the avalanche of questions regarding the new measures. A spokesperson there said Transport Canada will not comment "on any aspect" pertaining to new security measures, including whether cargo is being visually inspected. "We defeat the purpose of the new measures," by revealing them, the spokesperson said.

Beeman said it was "too early to tell," what kind effect the new measures will have on operations.