The Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced the recent conclusion of an expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India.
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The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week.
This significant move will allow airlines of Canada and India to better respond to the needs of the Canada-India air transport market.
The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately.
“The expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India is a positive development for air transport relations between our countries. We are pleased to expand this relationship with additional flexibility for airlines to serve this growing market," the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport said.
"By making the movement of goods and people faster and easier, this expanded agreement will continue to facilitate trade and investment between Canada and India and help our businesses grow and succeed.”
India is Canada’s 4th largest international air transport market.
Canada’s first air transport agreement with India was concluded in 1982, and was last expanded in 2011. This new agreement was reached under Canada’s Blue Sky policy, which encourages long-term, sustainable competition and the development of international air services.
The agreement gives Canadian air carriers access to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, and Indian air carriers access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India.
Other cities in both countries can be served indirectly through code-share services. Rights for all-cargo services are already unrestricted. ■
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