USDOT Fines Air Canada $250,000 for Operating Flights Carrying a U.S. Carrier’s Code in Prohibited Airspace

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today(27 Sept.)   fined Air Canada $250,000 for operating flights carrying United Airlines’ designator code in regions in which a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight prohibition was in effect for U.S. operators. The airline was ordered to cease and desist from future similar violations. 

An investigation by the Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) revealed that between October 2022 and January 2023, Air Canada operated a significant number of flights carrying the United Airlines code between the United Arab Emirates and Canada in airspace prohibited by the FAA to U.S. operators. Several flights took place after OACP issued an investigation letter to Air Canada regarding this issue. 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 consent order is available at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2024-0001. 

For information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance, and orders, the Department’s aviation consumer website can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.  

Tags:  US DOT,  Air Canada