The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has levied combined civil penalties of $425,000 against Air France and KLM after finding that flights carrying Delta Air Lines’ designator code operated through Iraqi airspace in breach of an FAA altitude restriction.
Scope and penalties
Announced on 23 October 2026, the enforcement action covers more than 130 flights operated between 2022 and 2025. Air France was assessed a penalty of $105,000 and KLM a penalty of $320,000. Both carriers were ordered to cease the non-compliant operations.
Regulatory detail and issue
The alleged violations concern flights that carried a US carrier’s designator code and entered the Baghdad Flight Information Region below the altitude the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricts for such operations. The FAA restriction prohibits covered flights below Flight Level 320 (approximately 32,000 feet), a measure that has been in force since 2020 and was highlighted in the DOT action.
- Period of alleged non-compliance: parts of 2022–2025
- Number of flights implicated: more than 130
- DOT penalties: Air France $105,000; KLM $320,000; combined $425,000
Airline response and operational context
Air France and KLM told the DOT that flight planning intended to comply with the FAA restriction, but that local air traffic control instructions sometimes led crews to descend or prevented climbs, a circumstance cited in the enforcement action. The case follows earlier US enforcement actions involving other carriers for code-shared flights transiting conflict-affected airspace.
Implications for codeshares and route planning
The DOT enforcement underscores that foreign operators carrying a US designator code must ensure compliance with FAA-imposed restrictions. The action highlights the compliance, planning and monitoring obligations that accrue to airlines engaged in commercial partnerships with US carriers, particularly in regions subject to security-based airspace restrictions.
| Carrier | Penalty | Period covered | Flights implicated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air France | $105,000 | April 2022–November 2025 (as reported) | Included in the >130 total |
| KLM | $320,000 | January 2022–May 2025 (as reported) | Included in the >130 total |
The DOT action is a reminder for network planners and airline compliance teams that codeshare marketing arrangements can import regulatory obligations from the designator-state. Carriers operating in or near conflict-affected airspace will need to maintain robust procedures for route planning, monitoring and coordination with commercial partners to avoid similar enforcement outcomes.
