Air Canada Fined $250,000 for Flying Over Prohibited Iraqi Airspace

The U.S. Department of Transportation penalized the airline for multiple flights between the UAE and Canada using United Airlines' designator code.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the fine on Friday, citing numerous violations between October 2022 and January 2023.
Air Canada operated flights over Iraqi airspace, which is banned for U.S. carriers due to complex security concerns.
The airline must pay $125,000 immediately, with an additional $125,000 suspended unless further violations occur within a year.
Air Canada attributed the incidents to air traffic control restrictions and aircraft changes, stating safety was not compromised.
This follows a similar fine of $1.5 million imposed on Emirates in June for flying over Iraq with JetBlue Airways' code.