Luftscamsa - US Department of Transportation Fines Lufthansa Group $420,000 for Iraqi Airspace Violations

The United States Department of Transportation has fined the Lufthansa Group a total of $420,000 for operating flights in prohibited Iraqi airspace. The penalty follows an investigation into safety violations involving flights carrying a United Airlines codeshare signal. Federal investigators determined that the carrier operated multiple flights through the Baghdad Flight Information Region below restricted altitudes. These operations occurred between 2022 and 2024 despite explicit prohibitions issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits United States carriers and foreign flights carrying a domestic code from flying below Flight Level 320 in this region. This restriction exists to mitigate risks from weapons capable of targeting civil aviation. Lufthansa AG received a fine of $220,000 for its specific violations. Its subsidiary, Swiss International Air Lines, was ordered to pay $200,000 for similar breaches of safety protocols. By utilizing the United Airlines code on these routes, the Lufthansa Group was legally obligated to adhere to American safety regulations. The Department of Transportation noted the carrier entered the restricted airspace multiple times while carrying passengers under the partnership. Representatives for the airline said the violations were unintentional. They argued that local air traffic control frequently failed to grant clearance for the aircraft to climb to safer, compliant altitudes. Federal regulators rejected this justification. The Department of Transportation said the carrier operated over a region where it knew or should have known it might not be able to maintain the required altitude. The agency emphasized that the safety of passengers on flights carrying an American code is a non-negotiable priority. It described the unauthorized entries into the Baghdad Flight Information Region as a serious lapse in operational oversight. Industry observers suggested that the carrier may have prioritized fuel efficiency and route timing over strict adherence to international safety notices. Lower altitudes can reduce operational costs depending on weather, wind and traffic congestion. This incident highlights systemic issues within the group’s management of codeshare agreements. Passengers booking through an American carrier expect the protection of United States safety standards regardless of the operating airline. The fine is intended to serve as a deterrent to other foreign carriers participating in codeshare programs with American partners. Compliance with security directives is a prerequisite for maintaining such commercial arrangements. The airline’s attempt to shift blame to air traffic control indicates a significant lack of accountability. Safety protocols suggest an operator should select alternative routes if compliant altitudes cannot be guaranteed by local controllers. The restricted zone in Iraq is associated with extremist and militant activity. The use of ground-to-air weaponry in the region has been a documented threat to commercial aviation for several years. Lufthansa has agreed to the consent orders and the associated financial penalties. The airline said it has since implemented revised flight planning procedures to prevent future incursions into prohibited airspace. The duration of the violations suggests that internal monitoring systems were inadequate for more than two years. The group continues to face scrutiny over its operational choices in conflict zones.