Regional and Bilateral Initiatives
Other types of arrangements
Bilateral Air Negotiations Between Canada and Foreign Countries
Canada and Foreign Countries Fast Facts
Over the past 50 years, the evolution of air transportation has
contributed significantly to economic growth in Canada and around
the world. Technological advances in aircraft and at airports as
well as the streamlining of administrative rules and regulations
between countries have increased the flow of goods, people and ideas
around the globe.
Canada’s principal goals when negotiating air agreements
are to:
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Provide a framework that encourages competition and the development
of new and expanded international air services to benefit travellers,
shippers, and the tourism and business sectors.
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Provide opportunities for Canadian airlines to grow and compete
successfully in a more liberalized global environment.
-
Enable airports to market themselves in a manner that is unhindered
by bilateral constraints to the greatest extent possible.
-
Support and facilitate Canada’s international trade
objectives.
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Support a safe, secure, efficient, economically healthy and
viable Canadian air transportation industry.
In 2006, Canada introduced a new international air policy titled
Blue Sky to modernize its approach to international air transportation.
This policy can be found on Transport Canada’s website: Blue
Sky: Canada’s New International Air Policy.
Air agreements recently signed or updated by Canada
The modernized approach has proven successful. Since January 2007,
Canada has successfully negotiated new air agreements or updated
existing agreements with the following countries:
Japan
February 5, 2007 – Under this bilateral agreement, airlines
from both countries will be able to adjust the capacity of their
services and aircraft types. They will also have greater route flexibility
to market partner airline flights as their own, offering additional
means of serving markets. (See press
release.)
United States of America
March 12, 2007 – The Open Skies agreement enables Canadian
passenger and cargo carriers to use the larger U.S. market as a
platform to serve a third country and vice versa. The agreement
also fosters the development of new markets, new services, lower
prices and greater competition. (See press
release.)
Ireland
April 30, 2007 – The new agreement will allow air carriers
to provide services between any city in Canada and Ireland. Canadian
carriers will also be authorized to use Ireland as a platform to
serve a third country and vice versa. (See press
release.)
Kuwait
May 17, 2007 – Under this agreement, carriers from both countries
are permitted to serve destinations of their choice in the other
country. Each country has the right to designate any number of carriers
to operate scheduled air services between the two countries. (See
press
release.)
Jordan
July 13, 2007 – Under this agreement, any number of carriers
from both countries are allowed to serve destinations of their choice
in the other country and to operate scheduled air services between
the two countries. Carriers can also provide code-sharing services
whereby an airline uses the flights of other airlines to transport
passengers for part of their trip. (See press
release.)
Iceland
July 18, 2007 – This air agreement allows airlines of both
countries to operate passenger and all-cargo scheduled air services
between any city in Canada and Iceland. Canadian carriers will also
be allowed to use Iceland as a platform to serve a third country
and vice versa. (See press
release.)
New Zealand
September 7, 2007 – The new agreement allows any number of
air carriers from either country to operate passenger and all-cargo
scheduled air services as frequently as desired, to and from any
point in either country’s territory. The agreement also allows
stand-alone cargo services between each other’s territory
and third countries, and includes a fully flexible tariff regime.
(See press
release.)
Singapore
November 7, 2007 - The agreement is a modern framework
for air services that permits any number of air carriers from either
country to operate non-stop passenger and all-cargo scheduled air
services as frequently as desired, between any city in Canada and
Singapore. (See press
release.)
Current air agreements
Over time, Canada concluded bilateral air agreements with more
than 75 foreign countries and territories. For a full list, please
consult the Canadian
Transportation Agency website.
Ongoing and upcoming air negotiations
Canada is continuously considering air agreement negotiations with
countries and territories in most regions of the world, and is currently
considering negotiating an agreement with the European Union (EU)
and its member states. Canada currently has concluded bilateral
air transport agreements with 19 of the 27 member states of the
EU. If negotiations are successful, a single air agreement could
rule air transportation between Canada, the European Union and its
member states. (See press
release.)
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