**Canada and Turkey successfully conclude air transport agreement **
OTTAWA, March 20 /CNW Telbec/ - For the first time, an air transport
agreement is in place to allow scheduled flights to operate between Canada and
the Republic of Turkey. Today, Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird,
announced the successful conclusion of an air transport agreement between the
two countries.
“Scheduled air services with Turkey would benefit Canada’s tourism and
provide more convenience to travellers,” said Minister Baird. “As one of our
Government’s objectives under the Blue Sky policy, this will help increase
competitiveness for air travel.”
The agreement provides rights that will allow airlines initially to
operate passenger and/or all-cargo air services with discretion to choose
routings and the cities in each other’s territory to serve. Airlines will also
have flexibility in the setting of their prices allowing them to react quickly
to changing market conditions.
“By allowing the creation of new routes, this agreement will help
Canadian businesses accessing market opportunities in Turkey, while
strengthening our relationship with this long-standing and important partner,”
said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and
Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
Turkish Airlines intends to introduce non-stop flights between Istanbul
and Toronto this summer. Air Canada is reviewing the air rights now available
with a view to determining their possible use with airline alliance partners.
Canada’s Blue Sky policy encourages competition and the development of
new and expanded international air services to benefit Canadian travellers,
shippers, and the tourism and business sectors. In recent years, Canada has
successfully expanded agreements covering all of its most important markets
and plans to continue opening up new opportunities for the Canadian air
industry in 2009.
I've flown Turkish Airlines from Europe to Pakistan and back a couple of times and was not very pleased with their service.
The last time I travelled with them was in 2004 though and I've heard that they've made a lot of improvements since then in order to become a part of the Star Alliance.
I would refuse to travel if Gulf Air was my only option to go somewhere. That's how much I hate them. But you know that anyway.
I'd rather fly with Air Nigeria (if that's an airline that actually exists).
Arghhhhh!!!!!!! count me in the list of GulfAir haters......
my recent trip from KSA to US was made a mess cause of Gulfair. I selected GF cause it was flying me from Bahrain-London-Boston with very minimal changeover time and excellent landing time on Boston.
Idiots changed our seats by themselves, they changed the aircraft from the new B777 to a very old A340, on Bahrain-London sector, gave us dreadful last seat with worst food I ever had on a flight. The aircraft was literally burning hot all the way from Bahrain to London.
Then again on London-Boston flight, I was given the last seat with my son on American Airline flight. But I would say that Halal food on American Airline was much better than Gulfair food. :(.
