The incident occurred on a Vancouver-Toronto flight and quickly went viral after a passenger shared a photo online.

The airline faced immediate backlash and was forced to clarify the situation, attributing the labeling to a “display issue” within its in-flight entertainment system.

Air Canada’s Response

“Air Canada has been made aware of a display issue with the interactive map on the in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems of its Boeing 737 aircraft,” the airline stated.

The company further explained that the problem was not unique to Air Canada but had also affected other carriers using the same mapping system. The airline assured that it was working with the third-party provider to resolve the issue.

Not the First Incident

A similar situation occurred in September when passengers on a JetBlue flight noticed an identical alteration in their in-flight maps. At the time, JetBlue attributed the issue to an external supplier and, “after careful review,” decided to switch to a different map provider.

The Air Canada controversy has reignited discussions over geopolitical sensitivities in digital aviation services, highlighting how mapping discrepancies can lead to diplomatic tensions.