No. H 171/07
For release - July 13, 2007

Canada's New Government Finalizes New Air Agreement with Jordan

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today announced a new air transport agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for scheduled air service.

"I am pleased to have in place a new air transport agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan," said Minister Cannon. "This agreement will provide more choices for travellers, shippers, air carriers and airports."

"Air transportation is an important enabler for trade and the movement of goods and services," said Minister Emerson. "This air agreement, coupled with the new Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement we concluded with Jordan this year, will help connect Canadian business with new opportunities in the Middle East."

Under the agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, any number of carriers from both countries are allowed to serve up to two destinations of their choice and to operate scheduled air services between the two countries.

In addition to operating their own aircraft, carriers can provide code-sharing services. Code-sharing is a type of air service where an airline uses the flights of other airlines for transportation for a portion of a passenger's trip.

Royal Jordanian Airlines, which currently operates two flights per week to Montreal from Amman, and Air Canada, are the two carriers that will immediately benefit from the accord.

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