Canada, Cuba sign expanded air transport agreement

An expanded Canada-Cuba Air Transport Agreement announced yesterday will allow for more airlines to operate between the two countries.

The expanded agreement under Canada's Blue Sky policy (which encourages long-term, sustainable competition and the development of international air services) builds on the 1998 Canada-Cuba Air Transport Agreement and will allow any number of Canadian and Cuban airlines to offer services between the two countries and provide increased opportunities for code-sharing. The agreement will also allow airlines to more easily introduce new prices in response to consumer demand, while strengthening safety and security provisions.

The new rights under this expanded agreement are expected to be available for use by airlines in the coming weeks.

Eloy Govea, the Cuba Tourist Board’s director for Canada, applauded the news as a boost to tourism.

“Canada is our number one market and we see the potential to grow even further,” he told PAX, adding that the increased opportunities for code-sharing “will allow Canadian airlift to provide Cuba with other flows of tourists, from China, the U.S. and the U.K.”

The announcement was also welcomed by the National Airlines Council of Canada.

“Canada’s major airlines welcome the expansion of the Air Transport Agreement with Cuba, one of Canada’s most important air travel markets,” said Marc-André O’Rourke, executive director of the NACC. “This new agreement will create opportunities to further develop air services between the two countries while boosting trade, investment and tourism.”

Changes to the agreement come months after the easing of relations between Cuba and the U.S., a move which is eventually expected to result in increased American tourism to the island.