The US Department of Transportation has hit Air France and KLM with a combined fine of $425,000 for flying dozens of Delta Air Lines codeshare flights through Iraqi airspace at altitudes below the federally mandated minimum. The penalty, announced Friday, stems from violations that occurred between 2022 and 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration restricts US carriers and their codeshare partners from flying through certain foreign airspaces where conflict or militant activity poses a risk to civil aviation. In Iraq, that means staying above 32,000 feet. Both airlines repeatedly dipped below that threshold while operating flights that carried Delta's flight numbers, making them subject to US rules.
Air France was fined $105,000 for more than 30 violations in the Baghdad Flight Information Region between April 2022 and November 2025. KLM faced a steeper penalty of $320,000 for over 100 such flights between January 2022 and May 2025. The US Transportation Secretary, Sean P. Duffy, made it clear that safety regulations are non-negotiable, saying, "We will not hesitate to hold accountable any airline for failing to comply with agency regulations. Passenger safety comes first, no exceptions."
Both airlines pushed back, arguing that local air traffic controllers either instructed pilots to descend or refused permission to climb to the required altitude due to conflicting traffic. They insisted that passengers and crew were never in danger and that following ATC instructions was the safer choice. But the DOT rejected that defense, pointing out that the recurring pattern meant the airlines should have anticipated the issue and taken preventive action, such as rerouting or removing Delta's code from those flights.
This isn't the first time European carriers have tangled with US aviation rules. Lufthansa's clever clothing campaign recently highlighted the unspoken rules of flying, but this case is about hard regulations, not etiquette. The fines are a reminder that codeshare agreements carry real responsibilities, even for foreign airlines.
For travelers, the practical takeaway is that codeshare flights can be subject to the safety rules of multiple countries. If you're booking a flight on Delta that's operated by Air France or KLM, the US government expects those flights to follow US safety standards, no matter where they fly. That's a good thing for passenger safety, even if it means airlines have to plan more carefully around conflict zones.
The FAA's restrictions on flights over Iraq were amended in October 2020 and remain in effect until October 26, 2027. Airlines that want to fly through that airspace must either stay above 32,000 feet or avoid it altogether. The DOT also noted that Air France had operated Delta codeshare flights through Somali airspace before October 2022, but chose not to pursue that issue since the FAA later changed its rules to allow such operations.
Both airlines have agreed to settle the case to avoid litigation. Of the total penalty, $265,000 is due within 60 days, with the remaining $160,000 suspended unless they violate the terms again within a year. Air France and KLM have stated they remain committed to complying with all applicable aviation regulations.
This incident comes as big US carriers are flying back to Tel Aviv this fall, signaling a gradual return to normalcy in some Middle Eastern airspace. But for Iraq, the rules remain strict, and airlines are on notice.
