Transport Minister, John Baird, said WestJet would offer new flights between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago from May. *Photo credit: wikimedia.org

OTTAWA, Canada, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago is among countries that will benefit from the decision by Ottawa to allow more airlines to operate between the Canada and the Caribbean.

Transport Minister, John Baird, said WestJet would offer new flights between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago from May.

“In the past few years, the Government of Canada has moved at an incredible pace to negotiate new or expanded international air service agreements, and today’s announcement provides even greater options for Canadians traveling south,” Baird said in a statement.

“Over the past four years, we have worked to provide airlines with more flexibility to increase the number of convenient flights and cheaper fares to help travelers, businesses, shippers and the tourism industry,” he added.

International Trade Minister, Peter Van Loan said Canada is “leading the way in creating better trade and travel links throughout the Americas and the world.”

“Today’s announcement builds on the agreements we have signed or updated since 2006, which now totals nearly 50 countries, including Barbados, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Mexico,” he said.

The two ministers said that the country has successfully concluded an expanded air services agreement with Cuba, “allowing more airlines from both countries to immediately operate scheduled air services between any Canadian and Cuban cities.”

The ministers said, effective on Sunday, two additional Canadian airlines were able to apply to the Canadian Transportation Agency to offer new flights between Canada and Cuba.

Baird said WestJet and Sunwing would operate scheduled international air services between the two countries.