News
Government Announces Air Transport Agreement with Singapore

Nov. 7, 2007, Ottawa, Ont. – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable David Emerson,
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the
Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, today announced the conclusion of a bilateral air
transport agreement with the Republic of Singapore.

The agreement is a modern framework for air services that permits any
number of air carriers from either country to operate non-stop passenger and
all-cargo scheduled air services as frequently as desired, between any city in
Canada and Singapore.

"The new agreement provides the stability airlines require to invest in
the development of new air services," said Minister Cannon. "It should lead to
new air travel opportunities for Canadian airlines and airports."
       
The agreement provides new and flexible arrangements for the operation of
all-cargo services, and gives airlines greater flexibility with respect to the
prices they wish to offer between Canada and Singapore.
       
"Singapore is the business hub for Southeast Asia," said Minister
Emerson. "This new air agreement will strengthen our business connections with
this important region and further contribute to making Canada a gateway of
choice into the North American marketplace."
       
The agreement provides for open code-sharing services, and includes
strong aviation safety and security provisions, which reflect the priority
that both countries attach to these subjects. Code-sharing is a type of air
service in which an airline uses the flights of other airlines over all or a
portion of the passenger journey.
       
In this important bilateral market, both Air Canada and Singapore
Airlines operate direct air services. Singapore Airlines operates one-stop
flights to Vancouver and both Air Canada and Singapore Airlines operate
code-sharing services via London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and San Francisco. The
two airlines are expected to assess the new rights exchanged with a view to
determining where air services can be expanded. The new agreement replaces a
temporary arrangement that has governed air services for several years.