Canada and India have expanded their air transport agreement to allow designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week.

The agreement gives Canadian air carriers access to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, and Indian air carriers access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India.

Other cities in both countries can be served indirectly through code-share services.

“The expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India is a positive development for air transport relations between our countries,” said transport minister Omar Alghabra in announcing the agreement with Canada’s 4th largest international air transport market.

He added, “We are pleased to expand this relationship with additional flexibility for airlines to serve this growing market. By making the movement of goods and people faster and easier, this expanded agreement will continue to facilitate trade and investment between Canada and India and help our businesses grow and succeed.”

Going forward, officials of both countries will remain in contact to discuss further expansion of the agreement. The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately.

“The Canada-India economic relationship is built on deep-rooted people to people ties,” said Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development. “With this expanded air transport agreement, we are facilitating even more exchanges of professionals, students, business people, and investors. As we strengthen our trade and investment relationship with India, we will continue building bridges like this that enable our entrepreneurs, workers, and businesses to access new opportunities.”

Canada’s first air transport agreement with India was concluded in 1982 and was last expanded in 2011. The new agreement was reached under Canada’s Blue Sky policy, which encourages long-term, sustainable competition and the development of international air services.