The US Department of Transportation has fined Air Canada $250.000 for violating safety guidelines and operating flights over Iraqi airspace. This violation occurred as part of a so-called air-sharing agreement with United Airlines, under which the US airline's aircraft were used for Air Canada flights. The violations occurred between October 2022 and January 2023 and represent a disregard of a ban by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that prohibits US airlines from flying over Iraqi airspace for safety reasons. Background: The ban and the security situation in Iraqi airspace The FAA has for years issued strict safety guidelines for overflying certain countries, including Iraq. Iraqi airspace has been classified as a high-risk area since the military conflicts and political instability in the Middle East. Numerous aviation authorities around the world have imposed similar overflight bans to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. In these areas, there is an increased risk of military conflicts and potential missile launches, as has happened sporadically in the past. The FAA ban applies without restriction to US airlines and their partner companies. It extends not only to aircraft with US registration plates, but also to aircraft operated under code-sharing agreements. This is precisely where the crux of the problem lies for Air Canada. Since the airline used United Airlines aircraft under an air-sharing agreement from October 2022 to January 2023, these aircraft were subject to FAA regulations, even though Air Canada was the operating airline. The incidents and their background The investigations by the