Mexico City, Mexico
18 February 2014
The Government of Canada is committed to helping the Canadian air industry increase its access to international markets, which in turn benefits domestic businesses, shippers and travellers.
To this end, on February 18, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico, witnessed the signing of the expanded Canada–Mexico Air Transport Agreement. The signing, by Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport, is an important milestone in the ratification and implementation of the Canada–Mexico Air Transport Agreement that was reached in 2011. The signing took place during the Prime Minister's first official visit to Mexico from February 17–18.
More specifically, the agreement offers:
- an open framework for direct flights by any number of Canadian and Mexican carriers;
- greater flexibility for air carriers to introduce new prices to respond to consumer demand; and,
- strong provisions to ensure the safety and security of flights between both countries.
Once ratified by both countries, the new rights under this agreement will be fully available.
The agreement is consistent with Canada's Blue Sky policy, which encourages long–term, sustainable competition and the development of new or expanded international air services. Under this policy, the Government of Canada has concluded new or expanded air transport agreements with more than 80 countries.
Additional and up–to–date information on the Blue Sky policy and its implementation can be found at: www.tc.gc.ca/bluesky.
