The penalty follows an investigation that found the airline conducted several flights between Ethiopia and Djibouti, carrying United Airlines' designator code, in regions where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had imposed a flight prohibition on U.S. operators.
In aviation, a codeshare agreement is a partnership between two or more airlines where one airline operates the flight, but another markets and sells tickets for that flight under its own flight number. This allows airlines to expand their reach and provide more options for passengers without having to operate additional flights themselves.
According to the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP), Ethiopian Airlines violated FAA restrictions between February 2020 and December 2022. The airline continued to operate these flights even after OACP issued an investigation letter regarding the issue.
"By operating these flights in this manner, Ethiopian Airlines violated the conditions of its authority to operate and engaged in air transportation without the proper DOT authority," the DOT stated in a release dated December 12, 2024.
The fine against Ethiopian Airlines comes alongside a similar penalty for Etihad Airways, which was fined $400,000 for related violations involving flights carrying JetBlue Airways' designator code.
According to U.S. authorities, between August and September 2022, Etihad Airways operated several flights between the UAE and the U.S. in FAA-restricted airspace. Despite warnings from the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP), the airline continued operating these flights until early 2023.
Both airlines have been ordered to cease and desist from any future violations.
'These actions reflect our ongoing commitment to enforcing the conditions under which foreign air carriers operate in U.S. airspace,' said U.S. authorities.
The fines against Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airways are part of a broader crackdown by U.S. regulators on foreign airlines violating U.S. airspace restrictions.
This crackdown also resulted in penalties for other international carriers, including Air Canada, which was fined $250,000 in September 2024 for operating flights in Iraqi airspace while codesharing with United Airlines.
Additionally, Emirates was fined $1.5 million earlier this year for violations over Baghdad between December 2021 and August 2022, while operating flights on JetBlue's codeshare.
Emirates defended itself against the fine, explaining that its pilots were forced to descend into restricted airspace over Baghdad due to adverse weather conditions at their assigned altitudes.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/ethiopian-airlines-fined-425-000-for-u-s-airspace-violations
