alitalia_747
September 6, 2002, 05:24 PM
OTTAWA (CP) - Air Transat has been cleared to serve four additional European countries immediately under a relaxed federal policy designed to give Canada's smaller airlines more opportunity to compete on international routes.
Transport Minister David Collenette announced Wednesday that the Montreal-based charter airline, which primarily caters to vacation travellers, has been designated to serve Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, and Poland.
While a Canada-Ireland bilateral agreement doesn't contain sufficient rights necessary for Air Transat to begin service immediately, Canada will begin talks with Ireland to facilitate Air Transat's plans, the minister announced.
A change in Canada's international air policy, announced May 21, provides for any number of domestic air carriers - regardless of their market size - to be designated for international routes, so long as bilateral air rights are available.
Prior to the policy change, Canadian airlines had to have a certain amount of passenger traffic to be considered for an international route - a condition that disqualified many of Canada's smaller airlines on many overseas routes.
"Thanks to the change to Canada's international air policy, Air Transat can now offer direct scheduled service to new destinations in Europe," Collenette said Wednesday in a statement.
Collenette's statement said Air Transat plans to introduce scheduled service immediately from Montreal to Brussels, Toronto to Amsterdam, and Vancouver to Amsterdam, via Calgary.
Starting next summer, the airline plans to offer flights from Toronto to Dublin and Shannon, Ireland. It will also offer scheduled service from Toronto and Montreal to Rome and Warsaw.
"These new designations will give Air Transat more flexibility in its operations, and will promote international travel options for Canadians," Collenette said.
Transport Minister David Collenette announced Wednesday that the Montreal-based charter airline, which primarily caters to vacation travellers, has been designated to serve Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, and Poland.
While a Canada-Ireland bilateral agreement doesn't contain sufficient rights necessary for Air Transat to begin service immediately, Canada will begin talks with Ireland to facilitate Air Transat's plans, the minister announced.
A change in Canada's international air policy, announced May 21, provides for any number of domestic air carriers - regardless of their market size - to be designated for international routes, so long as bilateral air rights are available.
Prior to the policy change, Canadian airlines had to have a certain amount of passenger traffic to be considered for an international route - a condition that disqualified many of Canada's smaller airlines on many overseas routes.
"Thanks to the change to Canada's international air policy, Air Transat can now offer direct scheduled service to new destinations in Europe," Collenette said Wednesday in a statement.
Collenette's statement said Air Transat plans to introduce scheduled service immediately from Montreal to Brussels, Toronto to Amsterdam, and Vancouver to Amsterdam, via Calgary.
Starting next summer, the airline plans to offer flights from Toronto to Dublin and Shannon, Ireland. It will also offer scheduled service from Toronto and Montreal to Rome and Warsaw.
"These new designations will give Air Transat more flexibility in its operations, and will promote international travel options for Canadians," Collenette said.