Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) signed a sister airport agreement, which is expected to improve operational, technological, economic and air connections between western Canada and southern India.The agreement was facilitated by Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s minister of international trade, and the two airports will collaborate on seven different areas. “This includes work around Vancouver airport’s digital twin as well as emerging tools and potential innovation pilot projects that could be jointly developed between the teams,” KIA’s operator Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) said in a statement.It will help the transit of air cargo between southern India and Canada, “particularly when it comes to supporting growing industries such as the tech sector in the two regions, as well as a goal of developing direct air service between Bengaluru and Vancouver”, BIAL stated.Albert van Veen, chief information officer, Vancouver International Airport, said: “By working together, both airports are exploring ways to improve the passenger journey while enhancing operational efficiency and resilience, not to mention supporting continued travel and trade growth between our two countries.”He added that two-way trade between Canada and India was valued at more than $10.9 billion in 2025 alone and that British Columbia was home to one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, comprising nearly 5 lakh people and representing close to 10% of its population.“Our teams will work closely to exchange proven models in smart airport technologies, sustainable operations, and terminal performance management, setting new benchmarks in efficiency, resilience, and passenger experience,” said Girish Nair, chief operating officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s minister of international trade, said: “As we move at speed to diversify Canada’s trade relationships with partners like India, our trade corridors are seeing real results. At Vancouver International Airport, air cargo volumes grew by 7.4% in 2025, and today’s agreement with KIA lays the groundwork for direct air service to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. That means more trade, more investment, and stronger people-to-people ties between our countries.”
