No. H 213/07
For release - November 7, 2007

CANADA'S GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT WITH REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, today announced the conclusion of a bilateral air transport agreement with the Republic of Singapore.

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.

"The new agreement provides the stability airlines require to invest in the development of new air services," said Minister Cannon. "It should lead to new air travel opportunities for Canadian airlines and airports."

The agreement provides new and flexible arrangements for the operation of all-cargo services, and gives airlines greater flexibility with respect to the prices they wish to offer between Canada and Singapore.

"Singapore is the business hub for Southeast Asia," said Minister Emerson. "This new air agreement will strengthen our business connections with this important region and further contribute to making Canada a gateway of choice into the North American marketplace."

The agreement provides for open code-sharing services, and includes strong aviation safety and security provisions, which reflect the priority that both countries attach to these subjects. Code-sharing is a type of air service in which an airline uses the flights of other airlines over all or a portion of the passenger journey.

In this important bilateral market, both Air Canada and Singapore Airlines operate direct air services. Singapore Airlines operates one-stop flights to Vancouver and both Air Canada and Singapore Airlines operate code-sharing services via London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and San Francisco. The two airlines are expected to assess the new rights exchanged with a view to determining where air services can be expanded. The new agreement replaces a temporary arrangement that has governed air services for several years.

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