Canada’s airports want “unilateral” open skies for cargo flights

Canada’s airports want “unilateral” open skies for cargo flights

Canada’s airports want “unilateral” open skies for cargo flights

Canada’s airports said they want a bigger piece of the world’s air cargo business, and are pressing the national government to develop a “unilateral” open skies policy for flown freight.
   “Canada keeps air cargo carriers out and is stifling the ability of Canadian communities to participate in this profitable $40 billion industry,” said Jim Facette, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Airports Council. “Unilateral open skies is the best way for Canada to catch up.”
   The council complained that none of Canada’s airports ranks in the top 50 airports for air cargo tonnage.
   “Canada is well placed to serve as a leading player in air cargo, as the first stop on the polar route from Europe or Asia to the Americas, with great truck and rail access to the U.S., and growing air links to Central and South America,” Facette said.
   The council noted that the Canadian government has made progress on liberalization through new agreements with the United States, United Kingdom, China, India and Portugal in recent years. However, in a position paper, the council said Canada’s relationship with other large trading nations, namely Japan, South Korea, France and Italy, are “far too restrictive.”