U.S. fines Air Canada $250,000 for flying over prohibited Iraqi airspace

Air Canada has been hit with a hefty fine from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for violating airspace restrictions over Iraq, Reuters reports. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) imposed a $250,000 (USD) fine on Canada’s flag carrier for operating a United Airlines’ code over a region where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had banned U.S. operators from flying.

The FAA restricts flights over Iraqi airspace due to security risks in the area, and Air Canada contravened the rules, according to the DOT.

The agency says that between October 2022 and January 2023, Air Canada flew several times between the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

The flights reportedly carried a United Airlines’ code but passed through airspace which is off-limits to U.S. airlines.

According to Reuters, the FAA cited the "complex security environment" that exists over Iraq in barring flights. Air Canada must pay $125,000 of the fine and owes another $125,000 if it violates the order again within a year, says the FAA.

Air Canada, notably, stopped codesharing with United on the route in January 2023.

Emirates was also fined $1.5 million by the U.S. Transportation Department in June for operating flights carrying JetBlue Airways’ code over Iraqi airspace.

It was the second time they had been fined since 2020.

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