Europe's flag carriers attack Emirates' expansion, Canada blocks UAE airlines and dispute escalates

UAE's Ambassador to Canada Mohammed Abdullah al-Ghafli on 10-Oct-2010 expressed disappointment at Canada's refusal to grant additional landing rights to UAE carriers adding that the decision would affect relations between the countries.The dispute escalated, as the UAE government imposed landing restrictions on Canadian official and military aircraft in the country. As Air Canada protects its commercial interests, Canadian consumer representatives said that "consumers are getting the raw end of the stick all the way along here."

Meanwhile, in what bears all the signs of a concerted attack on the Gulf airlines' expansion, European and US airlines have leapt to attack the use of Export Credit Agency funding in aircraft sales to those carriers, while also again raising old - frequently discredited - accusations of government subsidy of Emirates.