October 25, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Air France and KLM a combined $425,000. The fines cover flights that carried Delta’s flight code through Iraqi airspace below the minimum altitude allowed by the FAA.
What happened
The penalties were announced on Friday, October 23. The FAA rule (SFAR 77) bars U.S. carriers, and flights sold under a U.S. carrier’s code, from flying below 32,000 feet in the Baghdad Flight Information Region. That rule has been extended to October 26, 2027.
| Airline | Fine | Flights in question |
|---|---|---|
| Air France (AF) | $105,000 | More than 30 flights, April 2022–November 2025 |
| KLM (KL) | $320,000 | More than 100 flights, January 2022–May 2025 |
Of the total, $265,000 is due within 60 days. The remaining $160,000 is due only if either airline commits a similar violation within one year. Delta sold seats on the flights but did not operate them, and it declined to comment.
The airlines’ side
Both carriers said air traffic control directed the altitude changes, sometimes ordering descents or refusing climbs because of other traffic. They argued an emergency exemption should apply. KLM confirmed the settlement and said it will strengthen its compliance measures.
What it means for non-revs
This does not affect pass travel or seat availability. It matters to airline people because it shows codeshare partners can be held to U.S. airspace rules whenever a U.S. carrier’s code is on the flight. The airlines’ argument that air traffic control ordered the descents did not get them out of the penalty.
Sources
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