Dutch airline KLM has been fined $320,000 (approximately €285,000) by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The airline operated more than one hundred flights through Iraqi airspace under flight numbers of U.S. airline Delta Air Lines. This violated U.S. aviation regulations.
The violations took place between January 2022 and May 2025. During that period, KLM used a so-called codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines. Under such an arrangement, multiple airlines sell tickets for the same flight, while only one airline actually operates the aircraft.
Although the flights involved were operated by KLM, they also carried flight numbers of Delta Air Lines. This brought the flights under U.S. safety regulations prohibiting the use of Iraqi airspace.
The U.S. aviation authority, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), considers the airspace over Iraq a security risk. U.S. airlines are therefore not permitted to fly through the area without authorisation. The restrictions also apply to foreign airlines operating flights under U.S. flight numbers.
Air France also fined
In addition to KLM, sister company Air France has also been penalised. The French airline operated around thirty flights over Iraq using flight numbers of Delta Air Lines. The two airlines must jointly pay $425,000 in fines. Of this amount, $320,000 is payable by KLM and $105,000 by Air France.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stressed that airlines must comply with the applicable safety regulations without exception. According to Duffy, airlines that violate the rules will be held accountable. He stated that passenger safety must always come first.
