The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) fined Emirates $1.5 million for operating flights codenamed JetBlue Airways in prohibited airspace, according to Reuters.
The department reported on Thursday that between December 2021 and August 2022, Emirates operated a significant number of flights under the JetBlue Airways code between the United Arab Emirates and the United States in airspace prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration for US operators.
The conduct also violated a consent order issued in October 2020. The order requires the company to pay $200,000 under the 2020 agreement and another $200,000 if it violates the order within a year.
An Emirates spokesperson reported in a statement that the airline intended to operate flights at or above the restricted level. However, during the flight, air traffic control did not authorise the ascent or instruct the flights to fly below that level.
Our pilots duly followed ATC (air traffic control) instructions, a decision which is fully aligned with international aviation regulations for safety reasons.
JetBlue, whose code-sharing with Emirates ended in 2022, declined to comment. The agency said the flights in question crossed the Baghdad Flight Information Region, where the Federal Aviation Administration had banned all US air carriers, all US commercial operators and codeshare operators from flying without special permission. Emirates could face another $300,000 fine if it violates the rules again within a year.
The company’s spokesman stated that the airline no longer operated flights with US carrier codes over Iraqi airspace. It also told USDOT that it prioritised the safety of passengers, employees, and other airspace users.
