Pilotcenter.net News has reported that the US Department of Transportation (DOT) recently imposed hefty fines on Lufthansa and SWISS for operating flights with United Airlines' designator code in restricted airspace. The DOT levied a $220,000 fine on Lufthansa and a $200,000 fine on SWISS for violating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations that delineate where US-based carriers are allowed to fly.

Under codeshare agreements with United Airlines, both Lufthansa and SWISS are required to adhere to US aviation regulations, even if they are the ones operating the flight. An investigation conducted by the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) found that between March 2022 and April 2024, Lufthansa conducted multiple flights using the United Airlines code in restricted airspace. A DOT spokesperson expressed that "By operating these flights in this manner, Lufthansa violated the conditions of its authority to operate and engaged in air transportation without the proper DOT authority."

Similarly, SWISS was found to have operated several flights with the United Airlines code in airspace prohibited by the FAA for US carriers between February 2022 and March 2024. The fines were issued to Lufthansa and SWISS on December 30, 2024, accompanied by orders to halt any further infringements. Though Pilotcenter.net News did not disclose the exact locations of the violations, past incidents this year involved fines imposed on Emirates and Air Canada for flying over Iraqi airspace. It serves as a reminder of the importance of complying with aviation regulations to ensure safe and lawful air travel operations.