No. H 041/09
For release - March 20, 2009
OTTAWA — For the first time, an air transport agreement is in place to allow scheduled flights to operate between Canada and the Republic of Turkey. Today, Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, announced the successful conclusion of an air transport agreement between the two countries.
"Scheduled air services with Turkey would benefit Canada's tourism and provide more convenience to travellers," said Minister Baird. "As one of our Government's objectives under the Blue Sky policy, this will help increase competitiveness for air travel."
The agreement provides rights that will 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 will also have flexibility in the setting of their prices allowing them to react quickly to changing market conditions.
"By allowing the creation of new routes, this agreement will help Canadian businesses accessing market opportunities in Turkey, while strengthening our relationship with this long-standing and important partner," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
Turkish Airlines intends to introduce non-stop flights between Istanbul and Toronto this summer. Air Canada is reviewing the air rights now available with a view to determining their possible use with airline alliance partners.
Canada's Blue Sky policy encourages competition and the development of new and expanded international air services to benefit Canadian travellers, shippers, and the tourism and business sectors. In recent years, Canada has successfully expanded agreements covering all of its most important markets and plans to continue opening up new opportunities for the Canadian air industry in 2009.
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