CANADA REACHES AN EXPANDED AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT WITH EGYPT

OTTAWA, Dec. 21 /CNW/ - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today announced that an expanded air transport agreement has been concluded with Egypt.

"I am pleased to announce that an expanded air agreement has been reached with Egypt, which will benefit both our countries," said Minister Strahl. "This expanded agreement better responds to the needs of travellers between Canada and Egypt, and puts in place a framework that allows more convenient, direct air services."

This expanded agreement allows airlines to operate more flights between Canada and Egypt, and provides airlines with the flexibility to adjust their prices for travel between Canada and Egypt according to market forces. Airlines may also choose to offer air services using the flights of other airlines, commonly known as code-sharing services. The air transport agreement contains strong provisions dealing with aviation safety and security, reflecting the importance of these subjects to both countries.

"This new agreement will support Canada's strong and diverse commercial relationship with Egypt, a regional centre for trade and investment," said Minister Van Loan. "Our government is committed to facilitating the movement of goods, services and people around the world, and this new agreement will help Canadian companies to do just that."

The agreement is being applied on an administrative basis, allowing airlines to offer new services immediately. Once ratified, the expanded agreement will replace the 1987 Canada-Egypt bilateral air transport agreement.

Since the launch of the Blue Sky policy in November 2006, the Government of Canada has negotiated air transport agreements with more than 50 countries, including:

• open skies-type agreements with 11 countries: Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, South Korea, El Salvador, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica;
• expanded agreements with eight countries: Mexico, Japan, Jordan, Singapore, the Philippines, Morocco, Cuba and Egypt;
• new "first-time" agreements with eight countries: Kuwait, Serbia, Croatia, Panama, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tunisia; and
• a comprehensive air transport agreement between Canada and the European Union's 27 member states. This includes Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia, with which Canada did not previously have air agreements.

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For further information:

John Babcock        Press Secretary        Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl     Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa 613-991-0700

Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa 613-993-0055