Emirates claims Lufthansa encouraging Canada to block its expansion plans

Emirates Vice Chairman Maurice Flanagan stated Lufthansa is encouraging the Canadian Government to block Emirates' expansion plans to Canada (Arabian Business, 06-Dec-2010). The carrier had planned to increase its frequencies to Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, but the Canadian Government claims the current frequencies are enough to service the market. Air Canada and Lufthansa are members of the Star Alliance and Canadians travelling to the Middle East generally have to transfer through Europe.

Emirates: "They are targeting Emirates, being egged on by Lufthansa … It is purely the protection of Air Canada. We have perfect open skies to the United States, we can fly anywhere we wish with any capacity and any frequency so we go to New York, San Francisco, Los Angles they are all non-stop. Canada we are restricted to three flights a week [which is] absolutely ridiculous when the market is there for double daily Toronto, double daily Vancouver, and double daily Calgary. The market is there," Maurice Flanagan, Vice Chairman. Source: Arabian Business, 06-Dec-2010.