Barbados and Canada have signed a new air transport agreement to give aircraft “the flexibility to operate without directional or geographical limitations.”
The new agreement is envisaged to not only increase airlift but long stay visitors in both countries.
The agreement was signed recently by Barbados Foreign Minister and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, and High Commissioner of Canada, Marie Legault.
McLean explained that while an air services agreement was signed between Barbados and Canada in 1985, several developments occurred that necessitated a review of the previous agreement.
She said the agreement will replace the original air services one.
The minister noted that it was “no secret” that Canada was the island’s single largest source market for international business and the agreement was, therefore, an essential instrument to facilitate this.
McClean also disclosed that the agreement would allow designated carriers from Barbados to operate to any intermediary points and beyond in Canada, as well as permit designated Canadian carriers to operate to any intermediary points and beyond in Barbados, subject to regulatory conditions.
In 2013, more than 50,000 passengers traveled on Air Canada and during the past three years, there was an increase of 81,000 people and it increased every year, the minister noted.
The Canadian diplomat remarked that Canada’s exchanges with Barbados were “extremely important” and the new agreement was just another example of how both countries continued to collaborate to increase mutual growth.
