Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru and Vancouver International Airport have signed a sister airport agreement aimed at expanding technology cooperation, air cargo movement and future direct air service between Southern India and Western Canada.
The agreement covers seven areas of collaboration, including innovation, operational efficiency and the use of emerging technologies in airport management. The two airports will explore opportunities to work on digital platforms, data-driven decision-making and process optimisation.
A key area of cooperation will be Vancouver airport’s Digital Twin, along with potential innovation pilot projects that could be jointly developed or tested by teams from both airports. Digital Twin systems create a virtual representation of physical infrastructure and operations, allowing airports to study performance and evaluate changes using data.
The agreement also focuses on improving the transit of air cargo between Southern India and Canada. The airports said the cooperation would support industries in both regions, including the technology sector, while strengthening economic and air service connections.
The partnership includes the stated goal of developing direct air service between Bengaluru and Vancouver. The agreement does not announce a launch date or confirm an airline for such a route. Any future service would require separate decisions related to airline operations, demand, aircraft deployment, regulatory approvals and airport capacity.
“This agreement highlights the growing importance of the Canada–India corridor and the need for stronger collaboration across the aviation ecosystem to support passengers, cargo, and trade,” Albert van Veen, Vice-President of Innovation and Chief Information Officer at Vancouver International Airport, said.
Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), said the partnership would create a framework for technology integration and operational improvements by benchmarking against global practices. He said the collaboration would focus on developing capabilities across digital platforms, data-led decision-making and process optimisation.
The airports’ joint statement said two-way trade between Canada and India was valued at more than $10.9 billion in 2025, with both governments working to increase volumes in the coming years. British Columbia is home to nearly 500,000 people of Indian origin, representing close to 10% of the province’s population, according to the statement.
The agreement also reflects Bengaluru’s expanding role as an international aviation hub serving a large technology and business ecosystem. The city has recorded considerable population growth alongside the expansion of its technology sector and increasing business-to-business connections with Western Canada and the western United States, the airports said.
The next steps will involve cooperation between the two airport teams on technology, cargo, operations and air service opportunities. The agreement provides a framework for collaboration, while the timing and feasibility of any direct Bengaluru–Vancouver flight remain to be established.
