Canada and the United Arab Emirates have expanded their bilateral agreement, which will benefit leisure, business and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) passengers with more travel options, and the expansion of the cargo market.
Omar Alghabra, Head of Transport Canada, announced the expansion of the agreement to 21 weekly frequencies for each country. This will allow 50% more flights than the maximum previously possible, making it easier for airline operators to increase their services on existing routes and fly to new destinations, as well as greater flexibility to adapt to market demand.
«As we continue to support the recovery of the Canadian airline industry, we are pleased that this expanded agreement will benefit a greater number of Canadian travelers, industry stakeholders and airline workers in Canada. This is good news for tourism and the creation of good middle-class jobs for Canadians,» Alghabra said.
The United Arab Emirates is Canada’s largest market in the Middle East: the new agreement will accommodate growing demand between the two countries, enhancing global connectivity and supporting tourism and trade activity between the two nations.
This new agreement is also aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, as several UAE airports serve as hubs connecting to multiple destinations in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific.
Airlines operating between Canada and the UAE
Currently between the two there is a capacity of 12,882 seats per week on 18 weekly flights.
- Air Canada: daily flights on the Toronto (YYZ) – Dubai (DXB) route operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
- Emirates: five weekly flights on the Dubai (DXB) – Toronto (YYZ) route operated by Airbus A380-800.
- Etihad Airways: six weekly flights on the Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Toronto (YYZ) route operated on Boeing 777-300ER and 787-9 Dreamliner.
Recently, Air Canada and Emirates signed a codeshare agreement to expand both carriers’ networks and offer greater travel options to customers. The Gulf’s largest airline also maintains a partnership with WestJet.
«Canada and the United Arab Emirates have a broad and deep relationship rooted in strong people-to-people ties and trade and investment connections. Today’s announcement will be a valuable contribution to helping Canadian businesses grow and diversify their markets on the global stage, and will contribute to further economic and social development between our two countries» said Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.
See also: Emirates and Air Canada sign agreement to boost their cargo networks
