The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a $250,000 fine to Air Canada for operating flights over Iraqi airspace, which violates its air-sharing agreement with United Airlines.
The DOT revealed that the Canadian airline conducted a “significant” number of flights between the United Arab Emirates and Canada from October 2022 to January 2023 using United Airlines aircraft. These flights violated a prohibition set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which bars US operators from flying over Iraqi airspace due to security concerns.
The US agency launched an inquiry into the matter before issuing the fine, sending Air Canada a formal letter. “By operating these flights in this manner, Air Canada violated the conditions of its authority to operate and engaged in air transportation without the proper DOT authority,” the department said in a statement on September 27, 2024.
In an emailed statement to the press, Air Canada stated that incidents, described as “unplanned, inadvertent, limited in number, and of brief duration” were due to several factors. One particular violation arose when Air Canada had to deploy a Boeing 777-300 instead of a Boeing 787 on the route between DXB and YYZ, leading to a longer climbing time.
As part of the settlement, Air Canada is required to pay half of the fine within 60 days. The remaining portion will be suspended unless the airline violates the agreement again within the next year.