Emirates, Saudia to Increase Canada Flights as Ottawa Loosens Restrictions
OTTAWA – The Canadian government has greatly intensified air transport agreements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a move that the experts in the aviation industry argue will compel the domestic airlines to offer high standards of services to compete with airlines that are reputed to be among the best in the world.
The extended agreements were announced by Transport Minister Steven McKinnon in mid-December, which increased the limit of Saudi Arabian weekly flights to 14 compared to four. The U.A.E. will be having flights of 35 per week as compared to 21 and both countries will now be allowed to carry out unlimited cargo activities. The deal offers reciprocity in the middle eastern markets to Canadian airlines.
It is a policy change that is after years of limited air travel between Canada and the two countries. In 2010, the U.A.E. kicked out Canada out of a military logistics base where it was operating in Afghanistan because Ottawa declined to allow expanded flight access. In 2018-2023, Saudi Arabia halted all flights to Canada due to diplomatic disputes with Canada concerning human rights issues.
Aviation management lecturer John Gradek at McGill University stated that it is a big challenge to the Canadian carriers. The gulf airlines are described as the envy of the world industry in terms of the premium services, he stated, which will compel the Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat to enhance onboard facilities and aircraft designs.
It coincides with the announcement made by Prime Minister Mark Carney seeking to establish closer economic relationships with the Middle Eastern countries to diversify the economy beyond the United States, dealing with the current tariff disputes. Carney had won a $70 billion investment pledge by the U.A.E. when he visited Abu Dhabi in November.
Air Canada already has it that it effectively competes with the leading carriers in the world. Recently, the airline renewed its strategic alliance agreement with Emirates, and both airlines have the opportunity to sell tickets and enjoy the benefits of the loyalty program on specific routes up to 2032.
Gradek foresaw that the Middle East airlines would have a greater share of the traffic, but on the basis of Canadian passengers to serve the links between destinations in Asia and the Indian subcontinent via Dubai. Canadian airlines, in their turn, would direct most of the Middle Eastern traffic to U.S. destinations, which is relatively a smaller market.
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