More Airlines Will Be Flying Between Canada and Cuba

Above: Havana

By the Cuba Journal staff

Canada is expanding its air links with Cuba, according to a government statement.

Canada’s Ministry of Transport, Lisa Raitt, announced an expansion of the Canada-Cuba Air Transport Agreement, which will allow for more airlines to operate between the two countries.

The agreement builds on the 1998 Canada-Cuba Air Transport Agreement, which was last amended in 2009.

The new agreement will allow any number of Canadian and Cuban airlines to offer flights between the two countries; offer greater flexibility for airlines to offer air services using flights of other countries (codesharing) and allow greater price flexibility.

“This announcement provides more airlines with more flexibility to provide convenient flights to help travellers, businesses, shippers and the tourism industry. I am pleased to see an expanded agreement with Cuba, a top destination for Canadians traveling south,” Raitt said.

Cuba is Canada’s third-largest international air travel market.

“Air Transport Agreements help support Canadian businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, as they operate in global markets by strengthening people-to-people ties. Under Canada's Global Markets Action Plan, tourism is a priority sector, highlighting its significance in creating jobs and economic growth for Canadians,” said Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade.