US Regulators Fine Air France and KLM $425,000 Over Restricted Iraqi Airspace Flights
The US Transportation Department has fined Air France and KLM $425,000 for operating over 130 flights in restricted Iraqi airspace below safety altitude limits.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, USA — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Friday that it has issued a combined $425,000 fine against Air France and KLM. The penalty stems from the airlines operating more than 130 flights through restricted Iraqi airspace while utilizing Delta Air Lines’ flight codes.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations strictly forbid U.S. carriers from flying through foreign-managed airspace where regional conflicts or militant activities pose potential ground-based threats. Because Air France and KLM operate these routes under Delta codes, they are required to adhere to the same safety prohibitions as domestic operators.
An FAA directive, which has been active for over six years, mandates that aircraft maintain an altitude of at least 32,000 feet when traversing Iraq. According to the Department of Transportation, Air France conducted more than 30 flights and KLM operated over 100 flights below this minimum threshold between early 2022 and 2025.
Under the terms of the enforcement action, the airlines are required to pay $265,000 of the total fine within 60 days. The remaining balance will only become due if the carriers commit further violations within the next year.
In response to the ruling, both airlines emphasized their commitment to regulatory compliance and stated they take such safety matters seriously. The carriers noted that in several instances, local air traffic controllers directly ordered flight crews to descend or denied requests to climb, leading the airlines to believe these flights should have qualified for emergency situation exemptions.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
