Photo credit: globalnews.ca
Air Canada Fined for Violating Iraqi Airspace Regulations
In a recent enforcement action, the U.S. Department of Transportation imposed a fine of US$250,000 on Air Canada for operating flights that transgressed prohibited airspace over Iraq in the years 2022 and 2023.
This fine results from the airline running flights designated by United Airlines’ code, making them subject to U.S. regulatory jurisdiction. The violations involved multiple flights traveling between the United Arab Emirates and Toronto, utilizing airspace that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifically restricted for U.S. operators due to concerns regarding the “complex security environment” over Iraq.
According to the penalty details, Air Canada is required to pay $125,000 immediately, with a potential additional fine of $125,000 if the airline fails to comply with the order within the next year. In response to these violations, Air Canada ceased its codeshare arrangement with United Airlines for this route in January 2023.
In mitigation, Air Canada characterized the violations as “brief, unplanned and inadvertent,” explaining that they stemmed from factors such as air traffic control constraints and the necessity to use a larger aircraft that required more time to reach appropriate altitude. The airline emphasized that safety was not compromised during these incidents and mentioned that it has implemented measures to prevent recurrence.
Earlier this year, the Transportation Department also fined Emirates $1.5 million for its own violations, which involved operating flights carrying JetBlue Airways’ code over Iraqi airspace. This marked the second fine for Emirates since 2020, highlighting ongoing concerns around compliance with airspace regulations in politically sensitive regions.
–Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis
Source
globalnews.ca