18 May 2007

 

 

The following is excepted from a news release issued on 17 May by Transport Canada, and found in its entirety at http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h094e.htm .

 

            The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today announced Canada's first air transport agreement with the State of Kuwait for scheduled air services. …

 

The GCC [Gulf Co-operation Council] includes the most prosperous countries in the Middle East — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. These countries have nearly 50 per cent of the world's proven oil reserves, are experiencing a very high rate of economic growth, and may provide major business opportunities for Canada.

 

Under this first-time agreement, carriers from both countries are permitted to serve destinations of their choice in the other country. The agreement provides rights for each country to designate any number of carriers to operate scheduled air services between the two countries, and includes a flexible pricing regime, as well as strong safety and security provisions. The agreement also provides for a flexible regime for all-cargo services.

 

In addition to operating their own aircraft, carriers can provide code-sharing services with no limitations on frequency of flights….

 

This new agreement, which takes effect immediately, is the first to be finalized with a member of the GCC following the Government's recently announced Blue Sky international air transportation policy.