Scindia evasive on flights between India and Canada from Punjab Airports says Sanjeev Arora, MP

Ludhiana, December 20, 2022: Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia has stated that National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, inter alia provides for open sky Air Service Agreement on reciprocal basis with countries with territory located beyond a 5000 km radius from New Delhi. Canada agreed to India's proposal for unlimited direct connectivity as per open sky arrangement. It provides unlimited direct connectivity by Canadian Airlines to 6 Indian airports namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

He further stated that reciprocally, the Indian Airlines are allowed unlimited direct connectivity from any point in India (including Amritsar and Chandigarh) to 6 airports in Canada viz. Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two points to be selected by India.

The Minister gave this reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday in reply to a question with regard to flights between India and Canada from Amritsar & Mohali airports asked by MP (Rajya Sabha) from Ludhiana, Sanjeev Arora. 

Giving this information here on Tuesday, Arora said he had asked the minister whether Amritsar and Chandigarh are left out in the recent pact signed between India and Canada to increase the number of flights, if so, the reasons therefor. He said he was “dissatisfied” with the reply given by the Minister, adding in-fact the Minister was “evasive” on his question.

Arora said there is a need to introduce flights between Punjab and Canada as the maximum Indians settled in Canada are Punjabis. 

Adding, Arora said, “Minister kept on giving details of other countries which have connection between Amritsar and Mohali avoiding answer on agreement signed between India and Canada on open skies agreement.”