The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has placed a $250,000 fine on Air Canada for operating flights carrying United Airlines' designator code in airspace restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The flights in question took place in regions where the FAA had imposed flight prohibitions for US carriers, including the Baghdad Flight Information Region (ORBB FIR).
An investigation led by the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) revealed that between October 2022 and January 2023, Air Canada operated numerous flights between the United Arab Emirates and Canada - using United Airlines’ code (UA) - despite restrictions on US operators. According to the DOT, these flights breached the conditions of Air Canada’s authority to operate and were conducted without the necessary DOT approvals.
“Several flights took place after the OACP issued an investigation letter to Air Canada regarding this issue. By operating these flights, Air Canada violated the conditions of its authority to operate and engaged in air transportation without the proper DOT authority,” said a DOT spokesperson.
Air Canada has stated that it has served its Dubai-Toronto route for years without incident. The airline noted that the overflight issues only emerged when it began using Boeing 777-300 aircraft on the route.
The FAA has strict prohibitions on US operators flying in certain airspace deemed high-risk due to safety concerns, and airlines operating under US designator codes are expected to comply with these restrictions.