Transport Canada: Flying Interference

Gulfnews;

Toronto and Dubai: Emirates airline is fighting attempts by a Canadian government ministry to limit both its and Etihad’s access to the country, despite Canada’s official “open skies” policy.
Under the policy, foreign carriers are supposed to be actively encouraged to begin services to Canadian destinations. Transport Canada, the federal ministry responsible for enforcing the policy, is actively trying to prevent both UAE airlines from gaining more access to the Canadian market.
Currently, Emirates and Etihad services are limited to a combined six flights a week from the UAE to Toronto. In the autumn, Emirates moved from a Boeing 777 aircraft to an Airbus A380 superjumbo to accommodate greater passenger loads.
Both UAE carriers want to increase the number of flights weekly and add other destinations, including the oil-industry centre of Calgary and Vancouver, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics in February.
[…]
Despite the airlines’ efforts and the support of political leaders, officials at Transport Canada are discouraging the increase in services… [Their objections include] suggesting that the rapid expansion and success of Arabian Gulf carriers, enabled by the backing of various GCC governments, is leading to “unhealthy competition and irrational commercial behaviour”.

h/t Glen