The Government of Canada continues to expand opportunities for Canada’s air industry to the benefit of consumers

H005/13
For release - January 31, 2013

OTTAWA — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced that Canada has reached new or expanded air transport agreements with Turkey, Pakistan, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, the Gambia, Bahrain, Uruguay and Paraguay.

“The conclusion of these agreements will allow Canadian and foreign airlines to launch new or expanded air services, providing travellers and shippers with more choice and convenience,” said Minister Lebel. “The Government of Canada is committed to creating more business opportunities for Canada’s air industry through the conclusion of new or expanded air transport agreements.”

The expanded air transport agreement with Turkey provides for greater frequency of service. The expanded agreement with Pakistan offers more flexibility for route selection, frequency of service, and pricing. The agreements with Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, the Gambia, Bahrain, Uruguay and Paraguay allow airlines to offer air services using the flights of other airlines, which would increase air transport options for travellers. These agreements are an important step forward for the development of aviation relations and air travel markets between Canada and these seven countries.

“New and expanded air transport agreements support our government’s broad and ambitious pro-trade plan to open new markets around the world for Canadian exporters,” said Minister Fast. “Making it easier for businesses to expand and succeed abroad is key to creating jobs and prosperity for hard-working Canadians.”

The rights under all of these agreements are being applied administratively, which allows new air services to be introduced immediately.

Canada’s Blue Sky policy encourages long-term, sustainable competition and the development of new and expanded international air services. Under this policy, the Government of Canada has concluded new or expanded air transport agreements covering over 70 countries, including:

• Open Skies-type agreements, which have no restrictions in terms of capacity or cities to be served, with 16 countries: Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, South Korea, El Salvador, Switzerland, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Nicaragua, Honduras, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
• Expanded agreements, which build on existing bilateral agreements between two countries, with 14 countries: China, Japan, Cuba, India, Mexico, Singapore, the Philippines, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria.

• New first-time agreements with 17 countries: Kuwait, Serbia, Croatia, Panama, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Qatar, Colombia, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Bahrain, Uruguay, Paraguay, and the Gambia.
• A comprehensive air transport agreement between Canada and the European Union’s 27 member states.

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Additional and up-to-date information on the Blue Sky policy and its implementation can be found at: www.tc.gc.ca/bluesky.

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