Deutsche Lufthansa
FAA allege that the carrier operated around 600 flights using Airbus 340 aircraft from Frankfurt International Airport to San Diego and vice versa. Credit: Bill Abbott

German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa is facing a $6.4m civil penalty proposed by the US Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The governing body of the US civil aviation sector has accused the aircraft operator of operating nearly 900 flights that failed to comply with FAA regulations.

The FAA further alleged the airline was fully aware that it did not have the required FAA authorisation to conduct the scheduled flights.

Lufthansa operated the flights from Frankfurt International Airport into and out of San Diego International and Philadelphia International airports.

In a statement, FAA said: “Foreign airlines can only conduct scheduled flights into and out of airports that are listed in their FAA-issued Operations Specifications, and the FAA alleges neither airport was in Lufthansa’s Operations Specifications.”

According to FAA, the carrier operated 600 flights using Airbus 340 aircraft from Frankfurt International Airport to San Diego and vice-versa between 22 March 2018 and 27 May 2019.

Lufthansa also conducted 292 flights with Airbus 330-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft between Frankfurt and Philadelphia from 28 October 2018 to 10 April 2019.

However, the carrier dismissed the FAA allegation.

The company was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: “Lufthansa is fully cooperating with the FAA on this matter and will be addressing the regulatory issues involved with the agency.”

The FAA has given 30 days for Lufthansa to respond to the agency after receiving the FAA’s civil penalty letter.