Emirates rejects Air Canada comments its expansion will harm the Canadian aviation industry

Emirates rejected Air Canada CEO, Calin Rovinescu's claims that the Dubai-based carrier's expansion in Canada would harm the Canadian airline industry (Arabian Business/Globe and Mail, 10-Mar-2010). Senior VP International Affairs, Andrew Parker, stated consumers are currently losing from Canada's "protectionist rules", which are preventing Emirates from expanding its services to the country. Transport Canada stated that while it supports competition, as long as there are reciprocal gains, the capacity currently supplied by Emirates and Etihad Airways already exceeds demand.

Emirates: "Canadian consumers lose out if competition is constrained in the interest of protecting the national carrier," Andrew Parker, Senior Vice President of International Affairs. Source: Globe and Mail, 10-Mar-2010

Emirates: "Emirates is confident our case for reasonable air access to Canada is overwhelmingly in the country's national interest. The Emirates commissioned independent economic study by Intervistas rejects the notion that we could hurt Air Canada," Spokesperson. Source: Arabian Business, 10-Mar-2010.