Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt's emergency directive was mandatory and effective immediately, she said.
"If you're carrying passengers, this is going to apply to you," she said yesterday outside the House of Commons.
"You have to have two crew members in the flight deck at all times."
Raitt explained that the second person could be a flight attendant if the pilot or co-pilot has to exit the cockpit in flight.
Canada's flagship carrier Air Canada, Westjet and charter airline Air Transat were among the airlines that confirmed the policy change to AFP.
Earlier, French authorities said the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight appeared to have slammed his Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 passengers and crew.
The 28-year-old initiated the plane's descent while alone at the controls and refused to open the locked cockpit door for the captain, who was believed to have gone to the toilet.
You’ve hit your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online
Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app