Name: Eased restrictions on Middle East flights pressures Canadian airlines
Uploaded: 2026-01-05T23:37:30.215Z
Duration: 2 min 9 s
Description: As the Federal Government eases restrictions on the amount of flights from the Middle East, experts say Canadian airlines may face pressure to upgrade their planes and service level to stay competitive.

As the Federal Government eases restrictions on the amount of flights from the Middle East, experts say Canadian airlines may face pressure to upgrade their planes and service level to stay competitive.

Ottawa

Canada has announced new reciprocal agreements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, significantly increasing the number of passenger and cargo flights allowed between these countries and Canada. The changes follow efforts to diversify trade and are expected to benefit Canadian travelers by providing more options and potentially better service.

With the new agreements, flights from Saudi Arabia can increase from four to fourteen per week, and flights from the UAE can rise from twenty-one to thirty-five per week, along with unlimited cargo flights. Industry experts suggest that Canadian airlines will need to enhance their offerings to remain competitive against Middle Eastern carriers known for their luxury services and competitive pricing.

Eased restrictions on Middle East flights pressures Canadian airlines

It's like my own little house over here. Watching viral videos like this is the only way for some Canadians to experience flights from the Middle East famous for their first-class seats. Just the concept of showering at 35,000 feet is a little bit bonkers. But now Canada is opening up its skies to more flights from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Past diplomatic disputes had limited flights. There is renewed and increased interest and perhaps attention on these issues. After the Prime Minister's visit to Abu Dhabi to diversify trade away from the U.S., Canada announced new reciprocal agreements which will loosen up restrictions limiting some foreign flights. The global economy is being rewired. Canada isn't retreating. Kearney's government will now allow from Saudi Arabia as many as 14 passenger flights per week up from four and from the UAE as many as 35 a week up from a maximum of 21 plus unlimited cargo flights from each country. This is all part of our ambition to continue to grow export markets, build and strengthen business ties. Airlines from the Middle East will be able to fly more Canadian travellers to their hubs and connecting flights all over the world. Canadian carriers are going to have to up the ante and up their game. This aviation expert says Canadian travellers are the true winners in all of this. It'll push Air Canada. It'll push WestJet. It may push our friends over Transat to kind of look at the service level they're offering on board the airplane. He says Canadian airlines will likely have to upgrade their planes, cabins and customer service to go head-to-head with these competitors from the Middle East and adds that these foreign airlines know how to fill up their seats with low-cost economy tickets as they try to bring in big money from their first-class seats. Ashley Burke, CBC News, Ottawa.

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