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WASHINGTON– The US Department of Transportation (DOT) fines Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LH) and Swiss International Air Lines AG (LX) for violating airspace restrictions.
Lufthansa faces a $220,000 fine, while Swiss has been penalized $200,000. These fines stem from their operation of flights carrying United Airlines’ designator code in restricted U.S. airspace.
Photo: By Bill Larkins – Lufthansa over United, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29643046Lufthansa and SWISS US Airspace Violations
The violations occurred between March 2022 and April 2024 for Lufthansa, and between February 2022 and March 2024 for Swiss.
Both airlines carried United Airlines (UA) code in airspace where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had imposed a flight prohibition for U.S. operators. The airlines were also instructed to stop such operations in the future.
The investigation conducted by the DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) revealed that Lufthansa and Swiss operated flights with United Airlines’ designator codes in restricted U.S. airspace.
This violated FAA regulations, which prohibit U.S. operators from entering these airspaces without special authorization.
The investigation found that Lufthansa and Swiss failed to meet the necessary conditions for operating in these regions.
Both airlines were found to have engaged in air transportation without the required DOT authority. As a result, they were fined for their actions, as they knowingly operated flights in violation of U.S. aviation regulations.
The fines aim to enforce compliance with aviation laws and ensure that airlines operating within U.S. airspace adhere to all relevant restrictions.
Photo: LufthansaAirlines Response
While the fines were issued, both Lufthansa (LH) and Swiss (LX) were ordered to stop these violations immediately.
This ensures no further violations occur as both airlines adjust their flight operations to comply with FAA guidelines.
The DOT’s decision serves as a reminder to airlines about the importance of following established aviation regulations and the consequences of failing to do so.
These penalties reflect the ongoing efforts to safeguard U.S. airspace integrity and prevent unauthorized operations.
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Incidents
The U.S. Department of Transportation has levied fines against multiple international carriers for operating codeshare flights through prohibited airspace in 2024. Ethiopian Airlines received a $425,000 penalty, while Etihad Airways faces a $400,000 fine following detailed investigations into their operations.
Air Canada incurred a $250,000 fine in September 2024 for flying through restricted Iraqi airspace on United Airlines codeshare routes. The carrier operated multiple flights connecting the United Arab Emirates and Canada through prohibited zones between October 2022 and January 2023.
Emirates Airlines received the largest penalty of $1.5 million for traversing the prohibited Baghdad Flight Information Region while carrying JetBlue Airways’ designator code. The June 13, 2024 consent order revealed multiple violations that occurred between December 2021 and August 2022.
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The post US Fines Lufthansa and SWISS $220K for Airspace Violations appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
