New Sister Airport Deal Links Western Canada and Southern India for Freight, Tech, and Direct Flights

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) have officially joined forces under a new sister airport partnership, paving the way for expanded trade, shared airport technology, and eventual direct flight service between Western Canada and Southern India.

The agreement, formally signed at BLR’s Terminal 2 in the presence of Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, sets up a multi-faceted collaboration between the two major transit hubs. Key priorities include testing advanced airport management technologies such as YVR’s Digital Twin model expanding air freight capacity for high-tech sectors, and streamlining overall passenger efficiency.

The strategic alignment comes at a crucial time for bilateral economic relations. Two-way trade between Canada and India topped $10.9 billion in 2025, and British Columbia remains home to nearly half a million people of Indian heritage accounting for roughly 10 percent of the provincial population. Meanwhile, Bengaluru continues to solidify its reputation as South Asia’s premier technology hub.

Both airports enter the partnership following record-setting years. YVR welcomed 26.9 million passengers and handled 365,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025, while BLR processed over 44.4 million passengers and 532,000 tonnes of freight. Aviation officials and trade representatives from both nations emphasized that establishing direct air connectivity between Vancouver and Bengaluru will provide a direct bridge for business, tourism, and community ties for years to come.