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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. For more information on this policy, visit Transport Canada's Web site: Canada's Blue Sky Policy.
Air agreements recently signed or updated by Canada
The modernized approach has proven successful. Since December 2006, Canada has successfully negotiated new air agreements or updated existing agreements with the following countries:
Japan
October 1, 2011 - The bilateral air transport agreement between Canada and Japan has been expanded, providing more possibilities for air services between the two countries. The expanded arrangements include greater access for Canadian airlines to Tokyo's Narita Airport and added flexibility for airline routings. The agreement includes additional rights for services between Canada and Japan through third countries. (See press release.)
- April 9, 2009 – This agreement expands the existing bilateral air transport agreement between Canada and Japan. This expanded agreement allows airlines to offer unlimited services between Canada and any city in Japan outside of the Tokyo area. It also allows, for the first time, under certain conditions, access to Haneda Airport, Tokyo’s metropolitan airport. The agreement further includes modernized aviation safety and security provisions and provides mechanisms for airline prices to adapt faster to market fluctuations. (See press release.)
- 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)
Mexico
August 12, 2011 - Canada and Mexico have reached an expanded air transport agreement, which will facilitate increased travel and trade between the two countries. This expanded agreement provides a completely open framework for direct flights between Canada and Mexico, thereby allowing any number of airlines from both countries to offer more services between any Canadian and Mexican cities. The agreement also provides greater flexibility to adjust prices according to market forces and modernizes safety and security provisions. (See press release.)
Costa Rica
August 11, 2011 - The news release "Strengthening Canada’s engagement with Costa Rica" was created by the Office of the Prime Minister. To view the release, please visit the Office of the Prime Minister website - Strengthening Canada's engagement with Costa Rica.
- February 17, 2009 – The negotiated agreement provides rights that would allow airlines to operate own–aircraft and code-sharing scheduled air services between any bilateral city–pairs. It would also allow airlines greater flexibility in scheduling and pricing of flights. In conjunction with these services, airlines would also be permitted to sell services between each other's country and third countries. (See press release.)
Brazil
August 8, 2011 - The news release "PM strengthens economic ties with Brazil" was created by the Office of the Prime Minister. To view the release, please visit the Office of the Prime Minister website - PM strengthens economic ties with Brazil.
Qatar
February 2, 2011 - Canada and Qatar have successfully concluded an air transport agreement that allows for direct scheduled air services between the two countries for the first time. The agreement provides opportunities for airlines to operate flights between Canada and Qatar, as well as the flexibility to adjust prices between Canada and Qatar according to market forces. Airlines may also choose to offer air services using the flights of other airlines, commonly known as code-sharing services. The air transport agreement contains strong provisions dealing with aviation safety and security, reflecting their importance. (See press release)
Algeria
January 11, 2011 - The air agreement with Algeria was first negotiated in July 2006. With the expansion of Canada’s air transport agreement with Algeria, the number of weekly flights from Algeria to Canada will rise from two to three during the winter season, and from two to four during the summer season. These increases will help respond to the rapid growth in demand for air travel between the two countries. (See press release)
Egypt
December 21, 2010 - This expanded agreement allows airlines to operate more flights between Canada and Egypt, and provides airlines with the flexibility to adjust their prices for travel between Canada and Egypt according to market forces. Airlines may also choose to offer air services using the flights of other airlines, commonly known as code-sharing services. The air transport agreement contains strong provisions dealing with aviation safety and security, reflecting the importance of these subjects to both countries. (See press release)
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago
December 20, 2010 - Open skies-type air transport agreements have been concluded with both Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The new agreements give airlines additional flexibility for route selection, frequency of service and price setting. Airports will also be in a position to better market their services. Liberalizing the transportation-economic regulatory framework that has governed air services to these countries is consistent with the government’s Americas Strategy. (See press release)
Switzerland
October 22, 2010 - One of Canada’s top-20 international air travel markets, Switzerland is an important aviation partner for Canada. In this context, Canada and Switzerland have successfully concluded negotiations toward an Open Skies-type air transportation agreement, which modernizes the 1975 agreement (last amended in 2002) to better reflect today’s market realities. The agreement now contains expanded operating rights for airlines from Canada and Switzerland to operate air transportation between each other’s territory and third countries, in conjunction with scheduled passenger and/or all-cargo air services between the two countries. It also enables airlines to adjust their prices with greater flexibility to meet current market conditions. (See press release)
El Salvador
April 29, 2010 - Canada’s Transport Minister and the Minister of International Trade today announced that an open skies-type bilateral air transport agreement has been concluded between Canada and El Salvador. The agreement, which will replace an agreement negotiated in 1996, provides airlines with substantial flexibility for route selection, frequency of service and price setting. Any number of airlines may sell air transportation between each other’s territory and third countries, in conjunction with scheduled passenger and/or all-cargo air services between the two countries operated at any number of cities in each other’s territory.
New air services are anticipated by airlines of both countries in the near future. Constitutional requirements in El Salvador permit the new agreement to come into force only after it has been ratified. (See press release).
Tunisia
March 1, 2010 - Airlines of each country will now be able to provide scheduled air services in the other’s territory. In addition, airlines may choose to offer code-sharing air services. The agreement also provides airlines with the flexibility to adjust their prices to meet current market conditions. (See press release).
Ethiopia
March 1, 2010 - The agreement provides flexible routings for airlines to operate flights between Canada and Ethiopia, as well as the flexibility to adjust prices according to market forces. Airlines may also choose to offer code-sharing air services. (See press release).
Morocco
February 9, 2010 - The expanded air transport agreement allows airlines of each country to provide scheduled air services to more destinations in the other’s territory. In addition, airlines may choose to offer code-sharing air services. The agreement also makes it easier for airlines to adjust their prices to meet current market conditions. (See press release).
Cuba
February 7, 2010 - Canada has successfully concluded an expanded air services agreement with Cuba, allowing more airlines from both countries to immediately operate scheduled air services between any Canadian and Cuban cities. (See press release).
European Union (EU)
December 18, 2009 - The Canada-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement was recently signed by EU Transport Ministers and then signed by Canada's Minister of Transport. The Agreement will now allow any number of air carriers from Canada and the EU member states to operate direct scheduled passenger and all-cargo air services to any cities beween each partner's territory as frequently as desired. Air carriers will also be able to pick up traffic in each partner's territory and continue to a third country as part of a service to or from their home territory (see press release).
- December 9, 2008 - This agreement, which is consistent with Canada's Blue Sky policy and current Canadian legislation, allows the development of new markets, new services and greater competition. This includes:
- unrestricted direct air services between Canada and EU Member States;
- flexible pricing arrangements; and
- improved flexibility for cargo.
The agreement also covers eight EU Member States (Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia) with which Canada did not previously have air agreements. (See press release.)
South Africa
August 5, 2009 -Canada's Minister of Transport and the Minster of International Tradetoday announced the successful conclusion of an air transport agreement with the Government of the Republic of South Africa. This first-time bilateral agreement allows scheduled direct air services to be operated between Canada and South Africa. (See press release.)
New Zealand
July 21, 2009 – The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today signed the air transport agreement between Canada and New Zealand, while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore. (See press release.)
- September 7, 2007 – The successful conclusion of negotiations led to a new air transport agreement, allowing 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.)
Republic of Korea
July 15, 2009 - This new Open Skies-type agreement, which is consistent with Canada's Blue Sky policy, allows any number of air carriers from either country to operate scheduled passenger and all-cargo air services as frequently as desired, to and from any point in either country's territory. Air carriers will also be able to pick up traffic in each other's territory and continue to a third country as part of a service to or from their home territory. The agreement also includes a tariff regime that will allow carriers to readily react to market conditions. (See press release.)
Turkey
March 20, 2009 – The negotiated agreement provides rights that would allow airlines initially to operate passenger and/or all-cargo air services with discretion to choose routings and the cities in each other's territory to serve. Airlines would also have flexibility in the setting of their prices allowing them to react quickly to changing market conditions. (See press release.)
Dominican Republic
September 5, 2008 - 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 includes a fully flexible tariff regime allowing airlines to set prices according to market conditions. (See press release.)
Panama
June 13, 2008 – This new agreement allows airlines from both countries to serve any point in each others’ territory, with greater certainty on operational business issues. It also provides for flexibility for establishing airfares along with strong safety and security provisions. (See press release.)
Philippines
May 30, 2008 – This new agreement provides greater market access options for airlines from both countries for passenger combination services. In addition, there is a new, flexible regime for the operation of all-cargo air services between Canada and the Philippines, complementing Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor initiative. (See press release.)
Barbados
February 8, 2008 - The agreement allows airlines to provide scheduled air services as frequently as desired between cities in Canada and Barbados. In addition, airlines from both countries have greater flexibility in offering flights (passenger and cargo) to and from third countries, with the gradual phase out of all limitations. (See press release.)
Mexico
December 14, 2007 – This updated arrangement for air services will lead to more choices for travellers and shippers in terms of prices, routes, and destinations. This new arrangement will provide greater market access for airlines from both countries and will also help to strengthen our commercial ties with Mexico. (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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
Croatia and Serbia
December 11, 2006 - The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Minister of International Trade announced Canada's first air transport agreements with the Republics of Croatia and Serbia for scheduled air service. These agreements are the first to be signed under the Blue Sky policy, which will create opportunities for travellers, businesses and the air industry. (See press release.)
Current air agreements
Over time, Canada concluded bilateral air agreements with many foreign countries and territories, including European Union Member States. 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.
