Harper government announces more choices for flights to Colombia

OTTAWA, Aug. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the designation of Air Transat to operate scheduled international air services between Canada and Colombia, providing travelers with direct flight choices between the two countries.

"The designation of Air Transat to serve Colombia provides Canadians with additional, direct flight options to this country," said Minister Lebel. "This will contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the Canadian airline industry and provide more choices for travellers."

This designation was made possible by the air transport agreement concluded earlier this year between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Colombia. All Canadian air carriers may apply to the Minister of Transport for designation to operate scheduled international air services.

Since November 2006, Canada's Blue Sky policy has encouraged long-term, sustainable competition and the development of new and expanded international air transport services. Under this policy, Canada has concluded open, new or expanded air transport agreements covering over 60 countries, including:

• Open Skies-type agreements with 16 countries: Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, South Korea, El Salvador, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Sint Maarten and Curaçao;
• Expanded agreements with 10 countries: Mexico, Japan, Jordan, Singapore, the Philippines, Morocco, Cuba, Egypt, Algeria and China;
• New "first-time" agreements with 10 countries: Kuwait, Serbia, Croatia, Panama, Turkey, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Qatar, and Colombia;
• 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 transport agreements

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SOURCE: Transport Canada

Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055