US DOT fines Air France and KLM for flights through prohibited airspace under Delta’s code

Combined penalty of $425,000 relates to flights operated in the Baghdad flight information region between 2022 and 2025.
US regulators have issued Air France and KLM a combined fine of $425,000 for operating more than 100 flights under SkyTeam partner Delta Air Lines’ designator code in airspace restricted by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) says in a 23 October statement that the fines relate to more than 30 flights operated by Air France and more than 100 services flown by KLM through the Baghdad flight information region (FIR) between 2022 and 2025.

The DOT says the flights carried Delta’s designator code and were operated in airspace which US airlines were prohibited from using at the time.

It has fined Air France $105,000 for flights operated in the Baghdad FIR between April 2022 and November 2025, while KLM has received a $320,000 penalty for services flown between January 2022 and May 2025.

“Under the Trump administration, if you fly carrying a US code, following our safety rules is not optional,” states US transport secretary Sean Duffy. “We will not hesitate to hold accountable any airline for failing to comply with agency regulations.”

The DOT says the Baghdad FIR airspace restrictions were amended in October 2020, and the restriction has been extended to 26 October 2027.

FlightGlobal has approached KLM for comment.

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