Airlines in Canada could soon be under pressure from customers to improve their services as the federal government opens its skies to more competition from the Middle East.

Ottawa is loosening restrictions on the number of flights coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after past diplomatic spats had limited flights.

Aviation expert John Gradek said airlines from the Middle East are considered the "envy of the world" because of the services they offer, which will force Canadian airlines to do more if they want to go head-to-head with these foreign carriers.

"Canadian carriers are going to have to up the ante and up their game to be able to compete," said Gradek, who is a lecturer of aviation management at McGill University.