Tehran submitted a “formal” request to Canada to sign an “air transport agreement in place,” according to a source familiar with the matter, who is not authorized to speak publicly. Such an agreement would establish air links between Iran and Canada.
Specifically, Iran wants the aircraft Iranian airlines can land in Canada and that Canadian commercial aircraft can do the same in Iran. Canada has “agreements on air transport” with 101 countries in the world. Iran, meanwhile, has signed more than thirty.
‘Formal request’ was submitted to Canada this year by the Organization of Iranian civil aviation, but no response has yet been given by Ottawa, according to the CBC has learned. The Canadian Foreign Ministry, which handles such requests, refused to confirm or deny the information.
The Organization of Civil Aviation of Iran declined to comment on the case.
Iran is located
Iran is geographically well situated to connect the North American and European capitals in several major cities of Asia, said Mehran Ebrahimi, Director of the Study Group management in the aerospace companies of the University of Quebec in Montreal .
The national airline, Iran Air, ensured such trips before the 1979 revolution, but with international sanctions, other carriers like Emirates Airlines or Turkish Airlines, outperformed.
Obsolete fleet being renewed
The Iranian fleet is obsolete, but about to be renewed, says Ebrahimi. Iran has ordered more than a hundred Airbus, thus imposing A-380. “It shows clearly that they want long journeys with a significant number of passengers, mainly to link the East to the West,” he said.
The large Iranian diaspora in North America and the business community could borrow flights between Canada and Iran, believes Mr. Ebrahimi.
Such air agreements are usually signed between the governments of countries that have good relations, according to Paul Dempsey, director of the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University. “It is signed between two States and the airlines will operate after respecting the agreement,” he said. The fact that Canada has no embassy in Iran and that Tehran does not have one here “can be a challenge,” he said.
But trade issues are often more important, according to Armand de Mestral, Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University.
Canadian airlines are usually consulted. “The Canadian government thinking in particular in the interests of Air Canada and other Canadian airlines,” said Mr. de Mestral.
A balance must therefore be struck between the interests of the Iranian and Canadian companies. Ottawa has for example refused to allow UAE airlines to offer more flights from Canada. Air Canada had raised concerns because the Star Alliance, which owns the company risked losing passengers, said Mr. Dempsey.
The president of the national carrier, Iran Air, had already stated that the civil aviation officials of his country led discussions with their US counterparts for the establishment of links between Tehran and New York, according to news agency Iranian IRNA.
Improvement of Iran-Canada relations
Canada closed its embassy in Iran in 2012 and expelled Iranian diplomats in Ottawa the same year. The Trudeau government that he wished to restore relations with Iran progressively, as the country has reached an agreement with the international community on the supervision of its nuclear program.
In early February, Canada has slightly relaxed its sanctions against Iran. However, obstacles remain, particularly in the field of civil aviation. The most important Iranian private company, Mahan Air, is still blacklisted Ottawa.
ICI Radio-Canada (via Google Translate)
Direct flights from Iran to Canada?
