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Canada doesn’t sign up to airline liberalization policy

Nov 16, 2009, Montebello, Que – Source: CP – Seven countries and the European Commission have signed an airline liberalization policy statement. Following a summit in Montebello, Que., the parties signed the multilateral statement that aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the global airline industry.

Signatories include the United States, Chile, Malaysia, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, which represent about 60 per cent of global aviation traffic.

Canada was not among the signatories because it needed more time to evaluate the process, said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International Air Transport Association.

He says the policy statement marks the beginning of a drive to develop a more liberalized airline industry.

The policy principles aims to reduce national restrictions that prevent access to capital markets, restrict the ability to fly into countries, and set airline prices above market levels.