The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed fines on Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airways for flying under US airlines’ designator codes.
In a press release issued on December 12, 2024, the DOT stated that Ethiopian Airlines had operated flights using the United Airlines code, while Etihad Airways had used the JetBlue Airways code in regions in which a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight prohibition was in effect for US operators.
Ethiopian Airlines was fined $425,000, while Etihad Airways received a $400,000 penalty. Both airlines have been ordered to cease and desist from similar violations in the future, according to the announcement.
An investigation by the Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) revealed that, between February 2020 and December 2022, Ethiopian Airlines had operated a significant number of flights carrying the United Airlines code between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
One of those prohibited flights took place after OACP issued an investigation letter to Ethiopian Airlines regarding this issue.
A separate OACP investigation revealed that, between August 2022 and September 2022 and between January 2023 and April 2023, Etihad Airways had operated numerous flights carrying the JetBlue Airways code between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.