Centerlines - March 2009 - (Page 8) C A N A D I A N A IR P O R T S Path to Open Skies New EU Accord Promises Trade and Tourism for Canada A N O P E N AV I A T I O N area across the North Atlantic was the centerlines Airports Council International – North America 1775 K Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 293-8500 www.aci-na.org ® successful result last December of just over a year of comprehensive negotiations between Canada and the European Union (EU) teams. Canada now has a ground breaking agreement that will create immediate new opportunities for service and a clear path to a full Open Skies regime. Canada’s agreement differs from the U.S.-EU agreement in several ways. In the short term, it falls just short of the full definition of Open Skies for passenger services. While it includes a clear path for progression to full Open Skies, this is upon the completion of milestones that Canada may, but is not obliged, to reach: an increase in foreign ownership limits to 49 percent. A later milestone requires Canada to allow the right of establishment for a foreign carrier to create a subsidiary airline in Canada. Canada’s airports strongly back the new agreement with the EU, as we believe it will create immediate opportunities for new service. The EU is Canada’s second biggest trading partner and source for foreign tourists after the United States. More than half of Canada’s overseas tourists hail from Europe and we share some $84.2 billion (CAD) in two-way trade. However, Canada has ACI-NA Staff Greg Principato President Deborah McElroy Executive Vice President Policy and External Affairs Eileen Denne Senior Vice President Communications and Marketing Thomas Smith Director of Communications Published by Naylor, LLC 5950 NW 1st Place Gainesville, FL 32607 (800) 369-6220 www.naylor.com Publisher John Kilchenstein Editor Robin Redfearn Project Manager Ray Goodwin Marketing Associate Patti Callahan Bookleader Shane Holt Sales Reps Lou Brandow, Krys D’Antonio, Stephanie Diec, Todd Evans, Shaun Greyling, Josh Rothburd, Chris Vermeulen, Chris Zabel, Jason Zawada Designer Robert Mensies Advertising Art Reanne Dawson Cover photo courtesy of the Memphis International Airport. Centerlines is published quarterly by Naylor, LLC, on behalf of the Airports Council International–North America. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher nor of ACI-NA. © 2009 Airports Council International-North America, which is the exclusive owner of all rights and interest in the published work, unless otherwise agreed to in writing. ACI-NA and its members may reproduce the magazine, and the published work, in whole or in part in any media without prior authorization from Naylor. ® Centerlines is a registered trademark of ACI-NA. Published March 2009/ACI-Q0109/8116 THE EU is Canada’s second biggest trading partner and source for foreign tourists after the United States. More than half of Canada’s overseas tourists hail from Europe and we share some $84.2 billion (CAD) in two-way trade. concluded few bilateral Open Skies agreements with individual EU members. Because of this, the new EU agreement will lift many restrictions immediately. According to a 2007 study by the European Commission, the number of passengers between the EU and Canada under Open Skies would increase from 8 million to 14 million by 2011. In addition, the EC estimated that an Open Aviation Area would generate consumer benefits of at least $110 million (CAD) through lower fares and could create 3,700 jobs in the first year. Canada’s airports look forward to an early implementation of the agreement this spring, hopefully in time for the busy summer season. ■ JIM FACETTE PRESIDENT AND CEO CANADIAN AIRPORTS COUNCIL E-mail address changes to Publications@aci-na.org or mail to 1775 K Street, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20006 Email comments to centerlines@aci-na.org. 8 CENTERLINES | MARCH 2009 http://www.aci-na.org http://www.aci-na.org http://www.naylor.com http://www.naylor.com
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