12-Oct-2010 12:28 PM
Escalating dispute betwen UAE and Canada over aviation access
United Arab Emirates closed its airspace on 11-Oct-2010 to Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of the Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk who were returning from a three-day visit to Afghanistan, in an escalating diplomatic row over aviation rights (thepeninsulaqatar, 12-Oct-2010). Canada is also being forced to vacate its military base in the UAE following the failure of negotiations to expand aviation links between the two countries. The UAE had been seeking more landing rights in Canada for its national carriers, Emirates and Etihad while Air Canada objected to the move.