Direct Winnipeg–India flights
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to support and help establish direct or one‑stop Winnipeg–India flights and to coordinate with airlines, Winnipeg International Airport and relevant stakeholders. The government responds that it negotiates air‑transport agreements, expanded Canada–India rights in 2022, but airlines decide routes and European connections depend on other bilateral agreements.
Why we would sign this petition
- Would provide direct travel between Winnipeg and Indian destinations for the region's growing population of Indian heritage, reducing travel time and inconvenience.
- Could boost the local economy and business ties by improving connectivity for travellers, students and trade across the petitioners' ~2‑million service area.
- Aligns with past international routes from Winnipeg and community demand, restoring or expanding air services residents say they want.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Airlines make commercial route decisions; government support cannot compel carriers to start routes if projected demand or profitability is insufficient.
- International routes depend on bilateral rights and operational viability; European routing to India is governed by other countries' agreements, limiting what Canada can do alone.
- Costs and logistical constraints (fleet, crews, slots) may make direct services impractical; promoting better hub connections or alternatives could be more feasible.
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 Government of Canada supports international air services 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 the number of flights that can be operated. Currently, Canadian air carriers can operate own-aircraft services to 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 agreements with the United Kingdom and the 27 Member States of the European Union are very open and allow Canadian, United Kingdom and European Union airlines to serve Winnipeg. However, the rights for European airlines to serve points in India are set out in the air transport agreements between those carriers’ respective home countries and India.