UAE's dispute with Canada

The UAE's closure of airspace in response to Canada's refusal of a allowing more flights into Canada sheds more light on Air Canada's control over landing rights in this country.

Air Canada has objected to increased service to Canadian destinations saying that in certain countries, such as Dubai, there is very little originating traffic that comes to Canada.

The airline claims that carriers like Emirates Airlines pick up Canadians and take them to third countries with a stopover in Dubai, and there is no reciprocal benefit to Canadian carriers. This may be so but it reveals a larger problem with the airline industry in Canada and that is Canada's reluctance in general to allow foreign carriers access to Canadian cities.