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Trump’s Transportation Department Holds Foreign Airlines Accountable for Operating Flights in Prohibited Airspace Using U.S. Codes

Friday, October 23, 2026

Air France & KLM fined a combined $425,000 for codeshare violations in restricted zones

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation today issued fines against Société Air France ($105,000) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines ($320,000) for operating flights under Delta Air Lines’ designator code in airspace restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA prohibits flight operations by U.S. operators in foreign-managed airspace where conflict, militant activity, or heightened tensions pose a safety risk to civil aviation. Foreign airlines operating flights with a U.S. airline’s code must abide by these prohibitions.

“Under the Trump Administration, if you fly carrying a U.S. code, following our safety rules is not optional,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We will not hesitate to hold accountable any airline for failing to comply with agency regulations. Passenger safety comes first—no exceptions.”

Both carriers were ordered to cease and desist from future violations.

Investigations conducted by the Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) revealed:

  • Air France operated more than 30 flights carrying the Delta code through FAA-prohibited airspace in the Baghdad Flight Information Region between April 2022 and November 2025.
  • KLM operated more than 100 flights carrying the Delta code through FAA-prohibited airspace in the Baghdad Flight Information Region between January 2022 and May 2025.

The consent order for Air France can be found here and the consent order for KLM can be found here.

Additional Information:

Code sharing is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight.

Learn more about code sharing here.

On October 16, 2020, the FAA amended and extended SFAR 77, 14 CFR 91.1605, prohibiting all U.S. air carriers and U.S. commercial operators in the Baghdad Flight Information Region from conducting flight operations in the ORBB FIR at altitudes below Flight Level 320. The restriction has been extended to October 26, 2027.