Transport Canada announced on Wednesday that an expanded air transport agreement between Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been concluded. The updated agreement enables up to 21 flights per week for each country, possibly prompting Air Canada, Emirates, or Etihad to increase their weekly frequencies soon.
The expansion allows airlines to offer more flight options and routings, according to Canadian Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra. The UAE is Canada’s largest air transport market in the Middle East, and with this expansion, there is now capacity for 50% more flights than the previous maximum.
Immediate Impact and Future Opportunities
Airlines can begin utilizing the new rights under the expanded agreement immediately. Transport Canada expects that this decision will enhance the country’s global connectivity while supporting tourism and trade activities. This marks the second expansion of the transport agreement with the UAE since its inception in 1999, with a previous expansion in 2018.
As of April 2023, there are 18 weekly flights between Canada and the United Arab Emirates, according to data from Cirium. Currently, only two routes are operational, managed by three carriers. These routes include Toronto Pearson-Dubai and Toronto Pearson-Abu Dhabi, with Air Canada and Emirates operating the former, and Etihad Airways the latter.
With the new agreement in place, we could potentially see new Canadian cities gain direct flights to the UAE. While no announcements have been made yet, cities like Vancouver and Montreal might soon enjoy direct connectivity to the UAE.
Strengthening Ties and Supporting Growth
Minister Alghabra expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, “This expansion of the Canada-United Arab Emirates air transport agreement will improve Canada’s international connectivity and enhance people-to-people and commercial links. As we continue to support the recovery of the Canadian air industry, we are pleased that this expanded agreement will benefit a larger number of Canadian travelers, industry stakeholders, and workers in Canada’s air sector.”
Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business, and Economic Development, further emphasized the deep relationship between both countries. She believes today’s announcement will significantly contribute to helping Canadian companies grow and diversify their markets.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
