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ARTICLE · 12 DECEMBER 2008

Canada And EU Conclude Historic Multiphase Air Transport Agreement

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Canada and the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU) announced on December 9, 2008, an open-skies air transport agreement that both claim is an important step towards a greater economic partnership between the parties.

CanadaTransport
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Copyright 2008, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on International Trade & Investment, December 2008

Canada and the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU) announced on December 9, 2008, an open-skies air transport agreement that both claim is an important step towards a greater economic partnership between the parties.

THE LIFTING OF INVESTMENT LIMITS AND RESTRICTIONS ON AIR SERVICES

While the agreement has not been released, apparently it will provide for the opening of the air transport market in four phases:

  • "Phase One", effective immediately, allows for direct services (on an airline's own aircraft or that of another carrier) between Canada and the EU without any limitations on the number of flights operated, the number of airlines flying, or the number of services operated by any airline. All cargo airlines will also be permitted to fly onward to a third country.

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