Canada and Mexico reach expanded air transport agreements

OTTAWA: Canada and Mexico have reached an expanded air transport agreement that the federal government says will facilitate increased travel and trade between the two countries.

The expanded agreement provides an open framework for direct flights between Canada and Mexico, allowing airlines from both countries to offer more services between any Canadian and Mexican cities, the government said. The agreement also provides greater flexibility to adjust prices and modernizes safety and security provisions.

“As Canada’s third largest air transport market, Mexico is an important bilateral aviation partner,” said Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “The expanded air transport agreement builds on the existing air transport agreement to benefit travellers, shippers, and the business sectors of both countries.”

The agreement applies on an administrative basis, allowing airlines to offer new services immediately, once designated by the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Canada has negotiated a new open skies agreement with Brazil, as well as an air transportation agreement with Costa Rica. Canada now has open, new or expanded air transport agreements with 57 countries, including:

• open skies-type agreements with: Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, South Korea, El Salvador, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Brazil;
• Expanded agreements with: Mexico, Japan, Jordan, Singapore, the Philippines, Morocco, Cuba, Egypt and Algeria;
• new “first-time” agreements with: Kuwait, Serbia, Croatia, Panama, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Qatar; and
• a comprehensive air transport agreement between Canada and the European Union’s 27 member states. This includes Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia, with which Canada did not previously have air transport agreements.