Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced a major expansion of the 2010 Canada–Tunisia Air Transport Agreement, increasing permitted passenger flights from four to seven per week and granting unlimited all-cargo rights for the first time. Carriers on both sides can now serve any city in the other country, replacing the previous single-gateway restriction. The upgrade comes amid 55 percent growth in Canada–Tunisia passenger traffic since the deal’s last revision in 2019 and is expected to stimulate bilateral merchandise trade—already valued at CA $439 million—as well as educational exchanges for almost 3 000 Tunisian students in Canada. MacKinnon framed the move as part of Ottawa’s broader “Open Skies” policy to diversify trade routes and strengthen supply-chain resilience following the U.S.–Canada tariff dispute. For airlines the new rights open the door to daily non-stops between Montréal or Toronto and Tunis, as well as potential tag-on services to secondary Tunisian cities. Canadian freight forwarders gain immediate flexibility to charter dedicated cargo flights, a boon for automotive parts exporters in Ontario and agri-food shippers in the Prairies. Travel managers should anticipate competitive fares and easier group-booking inventory for corporate missions to North Africa—particularly in the mining, energy and education sectors. The agreement also simplifies crew logistics: carriers can rotate staff through multiple Tunisian or Canadian points without triggering cabotage concerns, reducing hotel and layover costs. Mobility teams moving personnel between Canadian HQs and Tunisian project sites should reassess routing options once airlines publish winter schedules.
Source: Transport Canada (CNW release)
