By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Division mentioned on Thursday it fined Emirates $1.5 million for working flights carrying JetBlue Airways’ designator code in prohibited airspace.
The division mentioned that between December 2021 and August 2022, Emirates operated a major variety of flights carrying the JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:) code between the United Arab Emirates and america in airspace prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration to U.S. operators. This conduct additionally violated a consent order issued in October 2020 fining Emirates for working different flights in airspace below an FAA prohibition.
Emirates was ordered to pay $200,000 below the 2020 order and one other $200,000 if it violated the order inside a 12 months.
An Emirates spokesperson mentioned in a press release the airline had supposed to function the flights at or above the restricted stage however that in flight, air site visitors management didn’t give clearance to ascend or had instructed flights to function beneath the extent.
“Our pilots duly adopted ATC (air site visitors management) directions, a choice which is totally aligned with worldwide aviation laws for security causes,” it mentioned.
JetBlue, whose code share with Emirates led to 2022, declined to remark.
The division mentioned flights at challenge had traversed the Baghdad Flight Data Area beneath sure altitudes, which the Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited all U.S. air carriers, all U.S. business operators and code shares from working with out particular permission. Emirates might face one other $300,000 nice if it violates the foundations once more inside a 12 months.
The Emirates spokesperson mentioned within the assertion that the airline not operated flights with U.S. service codes over Iraqi airspace.
Emirates instructed USDOT it prioritizes the security of passengers, workers, and different airspace customers, including the flights in query solely operated beneath the allowed stage “on account of direct directions from the related air site visitors controllers” and in some instances to keep away from a collision.
Emirates argued the pilots “have been legally obliged to observe the directions of the related air site visitors controllers and any failure to adjust to such directions would have had vital security implications,” the division mentioned.
