Emirates Airlines fined $400,000 for flying over Iran

The United States Transportation Department has fined Emirates Airlines $400,000 for flights through Iranian airspace during a time of heightened political tension between the US and Iran last year.

Half of the fine will be waived if Emirates avoids similar violations for one year.

The department on Thursday said the flights carried the code of New York-based JetBlue Airways – a sign that JetBlue could sell seats as if it were a JetBlue plane.

The FAA said for 19 days in July 2019, Emirates operated flights over parts of Iranian airspace, even though the US had barred flights because of heightened military activities and increased political tensions.

Emirates told the department the issue was a result of an "inadvertent oversight" but "agreed to this settlement in the interest of resolving this matter."