General Civil Aviation Authority signs agreement to increase air traffic capacity between the UAE and Canada

Dubai.  UAE

Sallam Mohamed 

During the recent visit of his Highness Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation to Canada. His Excellency Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of economy and Chairman of the General civil aviation authority held talks with the Canadian Transport Minister that culminated in an agreement to increase Air Traffic rights between the two countries and which undoubtedly will create new investment opportunities and stimulate economic activity and reflect the strength of the relationship between the two countries

The new agreement allows Etihad Airways to increase flights to Canada to become five flights with Boeing 777 and Emirates Airlines to increase flights to become five times a week with Airbus A-380 instead of thrice weekly, the agreement also stipulates increased cargo flights from two to four times a week

His Excellency Sultan Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economics and Chairman of the GCAA stated, “the two governments reached the agreement after the last visit of his Highness Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation, as well as our meeting with the Canadian Transport Minister His Excellency Marc Garneau, and reflects the evolution of the relationship between the two countries. The increasing of flights will contribute greatly to facilitate travel and support economic growth, and will provide new investment opportunities, especially in light of the economic agreements signed between the two countries recently through the joint Economic Committee”.
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority added, “this agreement is a positive step towards promoting excellent air links between the two countries, the national carriers of the UAE are world renowned globally for their success at service delivery and Air safety standards. This agreement will contribute effectively to connect passengers between East and West and vice versa, and it came to meet the urgent need for further development of air transport relations between the two countries and to increase the capacity currently available, and that this increase will provide multiple choices and flexibility for passengers between both the two countries. This agreement will boost business, tourism and other economic activities

His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Ambassador of the UAE to Canada noted the special bilateral relations between the two countries, stressing that this agreement will support and strengthen flourishing in all political, economic and cultural fields for the benefit of both countries

This agreement is a positive step in enhancing air traffic and in the interest of strengthening the economy between the two countries, also it is worth to mention that the UAE is the biggest trade partner of Canada in the region, with trade between the two countries amounting to more than 1.8 billion US dollars in 2017