Etihad urges Canada to open up to trade and tourism
Posted on 04 June 2011 with 5 comments from readers
The Canadian tourism industry will be one of the biggest winners if the UAE airlines are granted more landing slots. Etihad boss James Hogan is in Toronto arguing the case for better connections between Canada and the UAE.
Recently a long-running dispute over landing rights has resulted in the requirement that all Canadians obtain visas to visit the UAE, something not necessary for any other Western nation.
New Silk Road
‘We provide an important air bridge,’ Hogan said. ‘What I’m talking about is a new Silk Road — modern air routes that funnel passenger traffic through Middle East hubs instead of European terminals… I’m very keen to get more in regard to traffic rights, but until they come, I have to work with what I have.’
As an Australia citizen Hogan knows well how beneficial Gulf airlines can be for the development of trade which has more than quadrupled with Australia since the launch of air services 15 years ago.
Next month ArabianMoney will cross Canada from Toronto to Ottawa and then travel from Calgary to Vancouver on the RockyMountaineer train. Canada is an ideal summer vacation spot for Gulf residents with its guaranteed sunny but cool climate, unlike Europe which is usually hot in July.
But few make the journey with limited flight availability. We will take the A380 to Toronto which only flies three times a week. Emirates and Etihad would love to add Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.
At the moment the Canadian Government is thought to be protecting Air Canada from Gulf competition, although Air Canada does not fly to the Gulf directly itself. That means inconvenience for passengers from many cities who cannot fly direct.
Pain and gain
The government has a point with Air Canada. It might well lose out somewhat. But the gains for tourism and trade would far more than compensate, or at least that is what all the business studies of Australia and the Gulf airlines conclude.
Perhaps ArabianMoney is just biased because we would like a direct flight from Dubai to Vancouver each July to meet our friends at the Agora Financial Symposium, and this year we will also be filing some extensive tourism articles.
Commonsense usually prevails in these matters but governments can be slow to see it.
5 Comments posted by readers:
=> “Canada is an ideal summer vacation spot for Gulf residents with its guaranteed sunny but cool climate, unlike Europe which is usually hot in July.”
Most of Canada has a ‘continental’ climate:
Def: con·ti·nen·tal cli·mate
A relatively dry climate with very hot summers and very cold winters, characteristic of the central parts of Asia and North America.
July is hot,hot,hot except in coastal regions of course, like Vancouver.
Glad you like Vancouver. If you want to go salmon fishing (up the coast), while there, let me know. I’ll arrange something.
Is Gulf Air still based in Bahrain? or did they move.
Common sense usually prevails, . . . but anytime we use that term, together with the word “government” in a sentence it’s most often an oxymoron.
canada is the best spot for the vacation.
with respect to UAE we have no measureable tourism between us, most canadains do not even no uae exist no disrespect intened just the way its.what the common jack and jill have no the contexts between us science ,healthcare ,food stuffs,manufactured goods ,auto ,applainces, electronics ,music or sports we do not conected sorry but its true . some day perhaps but not to day.
Ed Note: Why then are the flights so full? The connections of oil and gas and resources are bigger than you think.
A-380s may or may not be full , trust me these are just our asian and indian passengers going on to othere destinations threw your hub.when air canada 777″s come on line that will be a game changer as well othere european and indian and asian air lines. as you know canada has working relations with europe our parteners for sometime and the view toward some, certainly not all mideast air lines is well documented as hostile,with our government and as well the general populace who are very concered and protective of our military. as a lay person the only time people speak of mid east is in conection with israel very important friend to canada which again is well documented. as you know oil and gas although large and important is not out only resourse two many to speak of are located in centre of canada where allowing foriegn airlines would never be allowed to go .sorry on and on I go .Our comentments to our current allies and parteners occupies us. perhaps as the years go by attiudes and feeling will change, for now lets be polite and courteous and i think the best time for that might be the olympics in the uae or world cup in qatar. bon chance
Ed Note: Typically Canadian, so laid back and looking in all the wrong directions.