Direct Winnipeg–India flights
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to encourage and support direct flights from Winnipeg to India or via one‑stop European connections and to coordinate with airlines and Winnipeg Airport. The government responds that bilateral agreements set air‑service rights, it expanded Canada–India rights in 2022, and airlines make commercial route choices.
Why we would sign this petition
- Improves travel convenience and reduces travel time for residents and the region’s growing Indian community seeking direct or one‑stop connections to India.
- Could boost regional economic ties, tourism and business by improving international connectivity for an airport serving nearly two million people.
- Builds on past international services and existing open agreements with Europe, making coordination between airlines and the airport a plausible path.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Airlines decide routes based on commercial viability; government encouragement may be insufficient if projected demand is weak.
- Bilateral air‑service agreements and foreign carriers’ traffic rights constrain which routes are possible, complicating Europe‑via options.
- Securing airline commitment may require incentives or policy effort with competing priorities, so proposed flights may not be practical or cost‑effective.
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.