Canadian PM Shakes Hands with India for Open Skies Agreement in Air Transportation

The air connectivity between Canada to India flights vice versa, is poised to receive an unprecedented boost as the two countries now permit designated carriers from each side to operate ‘an infinite number of flights between the two nations.’

Under this agreement, Canadian airlines can operate flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai with last minute flights services, Similarly, Indian airlines can fly to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be determined by India. Codeshares facilitate service to other cities in both countries indirectly.

Air India and Air Canada operate direct Canada to India flights & vice versa between the two countries.

Canada and India have agreed to an enhanced air transportation agreement that would allow approved airlines to fly between the two nations on an unlimited number of occasions.

• What is the Open Skies agreement?

An open skies agreement (also spelled open skies) is a treaty between two countries that allows for unrestricted air travel between them. Although the term “open skies” had been in use for some time, it only became widely known in March 2007, when the European Union and the United States signed a transatlantic open skies agreement that allowed any American or European airline to operate services to and from any European or American location.

According to Transport Canada, the first air transportation agreement between Canada and India was signed in 1982 and was most recently expanded in 2011. The new agreement was guided by Transport Canada’s Blue Sky Policy, which aims to encourage long-term and sustainable competition through air transportation agreement negotiations between flights to Canada and India.

• What’s new about it

Prior to this agreement, designated carriers in India, as well as designated airlines in Canada, were permitted to operate 35 weekly flights with last minute flights facility. According to the official website of the Canadian government, India is the country’s fourth-largest international air transport market. “Canada signed its first air transport agreement with India in 1982, and it was last expanded in 2011… Through code-share services, other cities in both countries can be served indirectly. “All rights for all cargo services are already unrestricted,” according to the website.

This important change would enable Canadian and Indian airlines to offer Canada to India flights and vice versa to better meet the demands of the Canada-India air transport business. Both nations’ representatives will keep in touch in the future to consider the agreement’s expansion. “The additional rights under the extended agreement are now accessible to airlines,” it says.

• A wonderful initiative by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau

“Today, we are publicizing an agreement between Canada and India that will allow an unlimited number of flights between our two countries… it will boost trade and investment between Canada and India,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Bali ahead of the G20 summit.

“We are glad to deepen this connection by providing further freedom for airlines to serve this developing market,” said Canada’s transportation minister, Omar Alghabra. “By enabling the movement of products and people faster and simpler, this enlarged agreement will continue to encourage trade and investment between Canada and India, assisting our businesses to develop and flourish.”