OTTAWA — A newly expanded Canada-India Air Transport Agreement allows unlimited flights between both countries.

The news was announced today by Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra.

The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week. Canada’s first air transport agreement with India was concluded in 1982, and was last expanded in 2011. The new agreement was reached under Canada’s Blue Sky policy, which encourages long-term, sustainable competition and the development of international air services.

A statement from Transport Canada says the significant move will allow airlines of Canada and India to better respond to the needs of the Canada-India air transport market, and adds that going forward, officials of both countries will remain in contact to discuss further expansion of the agreement.

“The expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India is a positive development for air transport relations between our countries. We are pleased to expand this relationship with additional flexibility for airlines to serve this growing market. By making the movement of goods and people faster and easier, this expanded agreement will continue to facilitate trade and investment between Canada and India and help our businesses grow and succeed,” said Minister Alghabra.

The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately.

India is Canada’s fourth largest international air transport market. The agreement gives Canadian air carriers access to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, and Indian air carriers access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India. Other cities in both countries can be served indirectly through codeshare services.