Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt announced an expanded Canada-Cuba air transport agreement that allows for more airlines to operate between the two countries.
The expanded deal based on the 1998 Canada-Cuba Air Transport Agreement is meant to encourage long-term, sustainable competition and the development of international air services.
It will allow any number of Canadian and Cuban airlines to offer services between the two countries; provide greater flexibility for airlines to offer air services using the flights of airlines from other countries (i.e. code-sharing); provide greater flexibility for airlines to introduce new prices to respond to consumer demand; and strengthen safety and security provisions.
The new rights of the expanded agreement are expected to be available for use by airlines in the coming weeks.
“This announcement provides more airlines with more flexibility to provide convenient flights to help travelers, businesses, shippers and the tourism industry. I am pleased to see an expanded agreement with Cuba, a top destination for Canadians traveling south,” said the minister.
Cuba is Canada’s third largest international air travel market.
