US regulators fine Air France and KLM over prohibited Iraqi airspace flights

The United States Department of Transportation has penalized Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines a total of $425,000 for operating flights through restricted Iraqi airspace. Paddley Too and Menafn both report that the combined fines were levied after the two European carriers flew over Iraq at altitudes prohibited by United States federal regulations. Simple Flying reports that the penalties apply to more than one hundred flights. [1][7][9]

While foreign carriers are not usually required to comply with United States federal flight restrictions over Iraq, the rules applied in this instance because the flights carried Delta Air Lines designator codes. Paddley Too and Simple Flying both report that the operations functioned as codeshare services with the United States airline, bringing the flights under the jurisdiction of United States regulators. [1][7]

Codesharing is an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines publish and market the same flight under their own airline designator and flight number. One carrier operates the aircraft while partner airlines sell seats on the service as part of their network, which obligates the operating carrier to comply with specific regulatory standards governing the partner airline. [1][7]

The enforcement action highlights heightened regulatory oversight for global carriers operating joint flights through active conflict zones. Foreign airlines partnering with United States carriers must maintain approved altitudes or alter routing on codeshare routes to avoid further federal financial penalties. [1][7]