The Canada-India Air Transport Agreement has been expanded to allow unlimited flights between both countries. This will allow for increased trade and travel between the two countries, and further strengthen the economic and cultural ties between them.

Canadians rely on the aviation industry to provide diverse international air services for things like visiting friends and family and getting goods to markets around the world. The expansion of Canada’s air transport relationships would allow airlines to provide more flight options and routings, which would ultimately provide passengers with greater choice and convenience. This would be beneficial to businesses as it would make traveling more efficient.

The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, announced that Canada and India have recently concluded an expanded air transport agreement. The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries, as opposed to the previous agreement, which only allowed for 35 flights per week.

This move will allow for better responses to the needs of the Canada-India air transport market by the airlines of both countries. Both countries’ officials will stay in touch to talk about further expanding the agreement.

The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport, said; “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. 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.”

The Honourable Mary Ng (Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development) said; “The Canada-India economic relationship is built on deep-rooted people to people ties. With this expanded air transport agreement, we are facilitating even more exchanges of professionals, students, business people, and investors. As we strengthen our trade and investment relationship with India, we will continue building bridges like this that enable our entrepreneurs, workers, and businesses to access new opportunities.”

What you should know about India-Canada transport market:

  • India is the fourth largest international air transport market for Canada.
  • The first air transport agreement between Canada and India was concluded in 1982, and was last expanded in 2011. This new agreement was reached under Canada’s Blue Sky policy, which promotes sustainable competition and the development of international air services over the long term.
  • Under the agreement, Canadian air carriers will have access to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, while Indian air carriers will have access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India.
  • Both countries can be served indirectly by other cities through code-share services.
  • Rights for all-cargo services are already unrestricted.