The US Department of Transportation (DOT) on January 17 fined Virgin Atlantic US $1.05 million for operating flights carrying Delta Air Lines’ code DL while flying over Iraq.
The penalty was ordered as the carrier was flying "in regions in which a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight prohibition was in effect", the DOT said.
The airline was ordered to cease and desist from future similar violations after an investigation by the department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found that that between September 16 2020 and September 16 2021, Virgin "operated a significant number of flights carrying the DL code over restricted airspace in Iraq while an FAA Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) was in effect".
"By carrying the DL code on flights in airspace in which the FAA prohibits US carriers from flying, Virgin Atlantic operated in violation of the conditions of its statement of authorisation and in violation of federal law," the department said.