Direct Winnipeg–India flights
Petitioners ask Canada to support direct or via‑Europe flights between Winnipeg and India by promoting routes and coordinating with airlines, Winnipeg airport. The government responds that route decisions are commercial and governed by bilateral agreements.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would expand direct travel options for the region’s growing Indian‑heritage population, reducing travel time and simplifying trips between Winnipeg and Indian cities.
- Direct routes could boost local business and tourism by improving connectivity for residents and businesses between Winnipeg and India.
- Coordinating airlines and the Winnipeg airport could restore past international services and leverage the petition’s cited two‑million regional catchment to help sustain routes.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The government notes route choices are commercial, so federal encouragement may have limited influence on airlines' network decisions.
- Airlines will add routes only if economically viable; insufficient or inconsistent demand and operational costs could prevent sustainable service.
- Canada has already expanded air rights with India and European agreements allow carriers to serve Winnipeg, so carriers may prefer existing hub connections.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned, residents of the Province of Manitoba, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: WHEREAS: There is a growing number of residents in capital region of Winnipeg that would like to see a direct flight from Winnipeg to India or at the very least, from Winnipeg to India via one stopover in a country in Europe; The region surrounding Winnipeg including Manitoba, Western Ontario and Eastern Saskatchewan has also seen substantial growth of people of Indian heritage; Winnipeg has in the past, had international flights direct from Winnipeg to cities in Europe; and The overall population in the area that is served by the Winnipeg International Airport has grown considerably over recent years and is estimated at close to 2 million people. We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Immediately consider how best to encourage and support direct international flights from Winnipeg to destinations in India and or any European countries that have direct flights to cities in India like Amritsar and New Delhi; and 2. Promote airlines to address the need and work with the Winnipeg International Airport and other stakeholders to make these flights become a reality.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Mike Kelloway The Government of Canada takes note of the campaign advocating for direct flights between Winnipeg and India and is aware of the importance of this issue for many Canadians, including residents of Manitoba. We recognize the growing demand for connectivity from Winnipeg to India and appreciate the importance of this to residents and businesses. The Government of Canada is responsible for negotiating bilateral air transport agreements with foreign governments. These agreements govern the operation of scheduled air services and provide the legal framework within which airlines make decisions based on their own commercial priorities, actual market demand, and the operational viability of routes. This is an important point as the locations that Canadian airlines decide to serve are business decisions. The means by which the Government of Canada supports international air services is by ensuring that Canada's air transport agreements include the rights that airlines require to operate. The Government expanded its air transport agreement with India in 2022 and was able to remove limits on capacity (i.e., the number of flights that can be operated). Currently, Canadian air carriers can operate own-aircraft services to Bangalore (Bengaluru), Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, while Indian air carriers can operate own-aircraft services to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India. With respect to services operated via Europe, Canada’s air transport agreement with the United Kingdom and its agreement with the 27 Member States of the European Union, are very open, and permit airlines to operate from all cities in Canada to any destinations in the United Kingdom or the European Union. There are no impediments preventing Canadian, United Kingdom or European Union air carriers from serving Winnipeg. However, it is important to note that the Government of Canada does not determine which routes Canadian or foreign carriers serve as the decision is a commercial one made by airlines. It is also important to note that the rights of European airlines to serve points in India are set out in the air transport agreements between those carriers’ respective home countries and India.