22 July 2009

Canada reaches Blue Sky agreement with New Zealand

The following news release was issued on 21 July 2009.

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today signed a Blue Sky air transport agreement with New Zealand, while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore….

The new agreement allows any number of air carriers from either country to operate passenger and all-cargo scheduled air services as frequently as desired, to and from any point in either country's territory. Air carriers of both countries will also be able to pick up traffic in each other's territory and continue to a third country en route to or from their home territory.

The agreement also provides for enhanced all-cargo rights, allowing stand-alone cargo services between each other's territory and third countries, and includes a fully flexible tariff regime….

This new air transport agreement between the two countries replaces the agreement that has been in force since 1985.

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.