Tough fight for EK in Canada
Air Canada refutes Emirates Airlines' claim of benefits from more flights
Financial Post
The fight to limit Emirates Airline's access to the Canadian market escalated yesterday when Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada's chief executive, right, accused the UAE airline of telling "fairy tales" about the economic benefits greater access would create here. "Simply put, the market between Canada and the UAE has not developed to the point where more capacity is warranted. Period. Full stop," Mr. Rovinescu said in Vancouver. "There are already more airline seats being flown between Dubai and Canada than there are people to fill them," he said. But Emirates has been lobbying for greater access to the Canadian market in recent years. Under federal rules, it is limited to sharing six flights a week with Abu Dhabi carrier, Etihad Airways. Mr. Rovinescu said Emirates plans to fly passengers through its base in Dubai en route to destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.