Emirates has been fined for carrying a US airline's flight code over prohibited airspace over Iraq.
Emirates has been fined for carrying a US airline's flight code over prohibited airspace over Iraq.
Reported on outlets such as Gulf News and the Khaleej Times, the Dubai-based carrier was fined USD $1.5 million by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) over violations of the US's Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR). Among the regulations include restrictions on airlines carrying a US air-carrier code from operating below 32,000 feet (9753 meters) while over the airspace over Iraq.
According to the reports, the incidents took place during an eight month period between December 2021 and August 2022. During this time, the flights in question totalled 122 which carried US-based JetBlue's flight code as part of codeshare operations between the two carriers.
In response to the fine, Emirates stated it had no intentions to violate the restrictions and planned for the flights to operate at or above the restricted level. However, its pilots had to descend into the prohibited areas per instructions from Air Traffic Control – which the pilots had legal obligations to do so for safety and compliance with international aviation regulations.
Emirates previously received a similar fine for around USD $200,000 in 2020, with another USD $200,000 if it violated it again within a year. With this fine, the airline could be fined again for around USD $300,000 if there is a violation within a year.
As of now, Emirates does not operate any flights with a US airline flight code over Iraqi airspace.
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