Federal travel warning hangs over first flight linking UAE to Western Canada

Calgary’s first non-stop flight to the United Arab Emirates is opening the door to a world of destinations, but the route raises questions about the risks Canadian travellers may face after landing.

Officials are celebrating Etihad Airways’ new route linking Calgary to Abu Dhabi as an opportunity to strengthen economic ties, even as the Canadian government warns travellers of restrictive human-rights laws and lingering security threats in the country.

A federal travel warning for the United Arab Emirates, updated in October, warns Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution due to the “volatile security situation” in the region. It also draws attention to the threat of terrorist attacks in the UAE.

Alpna Mathews, Etihad’s regional general manager for the Americas, United Kingdom and Ireland, says safety is a priority for the airline.

“We do everything possible to ensure that safety comes first,” Mathews said in an interview.

“We exercise caution when needed, and our routes are planned accordingly,” she added.

Etihad, the UAE’s national airline, and other carriers have adjusted operations to account for airspace restrictions amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The government’s warning is an improvement compared to late September, when it cautioned Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to the region entirely.

There’s also a range of legal and human-rights risks in the UAE, including for LGBTQ+ travellers, according to the warning.

While officials have hailed the connection, a queer rights advocate says that its promotion should also come with greater consideration of the risks.

“It’s obviously a major concern, and it’s something that queer travellers have to think about and navigate,” said Victoria Bucholtz, executive director of TransAction Alberta.

When travelling in the region, LGBTQ+ individuals could face detention based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. There are also potentially severe criminal penalties, including a death sentence.

“Queer people constantly have to examine the locations that we are thinking of spending our dollars at, where our travels will take us, and assess if there’s a threat,” Bucholtz said.

Michael Campbell, director of corporate communications at Etihad, said while it can’t comment on government policy, the airline welcomes everyone aboard its flights.

“Please come experience us, experience Abu Dhabi,” Campbell said. “It is one of the greatest cities on the planet.”

The route will run four flights per week aboard the company’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with the potential to expand, according to Mathews.

“Success to me means that we go daily, and then eventually, hopefully, even two flights a day would be wonderful,” Mathews said.

The new route links Western Canadian travellers with more than 100 potential destinations through connecting flights, according to Chris Dinsdale, chief executive of Calgary Airports.

“This actually really opens up the world,” Dinsdale said.

In addition to strengthening ties between two global energy superpowers, he said the route offers a convenient option for Canadians visiting friends and family in India, the Middle East and Africa.

Chris Murray, an analyst with ATB Cormark Capital Markets, says the route will mean more traffic for Etihad’s central hub.

“The business model for a lot of those carriers, it really has been about building these global super hubs that can connect different parts of the world,” Murray added.

Alisha Reynolds, Tourism Calgary’s chief executive, said the new service “opens up a world of possibility” for Calgary.

“Any time we open the door to new markets that bring Calgary to the world, it translates directly to jobs, economic opportunity and visitation,” Reynolds said.

The increased connectivity could also help Calgary attract more visitors for conventions, sport and cultural events, Reynolds said.

But Bucholtz expressed concern that the federal government’s pursuit of stronger economic relationships internationally appears to be coming at the expense of a more “principled” approach to human rights.

In a landmark visit to Turkey last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney made the case for stronger defence and economic ties between the two countries.

The visit drew public scrutiny amid what UN human-rights experts have called a “severe crackdown” on LGBTQ+ groups in Turkey, including raids on gay bars, nightclubs, and the homes of activists and community members.

“I would love to see cultural and social and human-rights values impact our foreign policy, and not just the almighty dollar being the guiding light of Canadian actions abroad,” Bucholtz said.

The announcement of the Calgary-Abu Dhabi route earlier this year followed the federal government’s efforts to deepen economic ties with the UAE.

During a visit to Abu Dhabi last November, Carney secured several agreements, including a commitment from the UAE to invest approximately $70 billion across various sectors of the Canadian economy.

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