The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Could Bengaluru Get Direct Flights To Canada? New Vancouver Airport Pact Sets The Stage
Canada's Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said the partnership could strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people ties. The agreement also reflects growing business links and an Indian-origin community in British Columbia.
Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and Vancouver International Airport in Canada have signed a sister airport agreement to strengthen cooperation in aviation technology, airport operations, cargo movement and trade. The pact also seeks to explore the establishment of direct air services between Bengaluru and Vancouver, linking southern India with western Canada.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday at Terminal 2 of Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, with Canada’s Minister of International Trade in attendance along with senior officials from both sides.
BIAL, the operator of Bengaluru airport, said the framework covers seven areas, including technology and innovation, operational improvements, air cargo development, and the exploration of direct connectivity between the two cities.
The event included representatives from both airports and Canadian diplomatic officials, and highlighted ongoing collaboration as part of a broader Team Canada Trade Mission to India.
Officials in Bengaluru and Vancouver are pursuing opportunities to enhance aviation technology and cargo movement while evaluating the feasibility and framework for potential direct flights between Bengaluru and Vancouver.
The agreement is positioned within the context of strengthening bilateral trade and investment, with Canadian companies already active in Bangalore’s airport ecosystem and potential for expanded partnerships in aviation infrastructure and related sectors.