Lufthansa agrees to a record $4 million fine for its treatment of Jewish passengers
NPR Online NewsOCT 20 2024
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Lufthansa $4M for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers in May 2022. This marks the largest civil rights penalty ever issued against an airline.
It's alleged that Germany's flagship airline denied 128 Orthodox Jewish passengers boarding on a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest, despite many not knowing each other or traveling together.
Lufthansa staff reportedly treated the Jewish passengers as a single group and prevented them from boarding due to the alleged misbehavior of a few individuals on the initial flight from New York.
The DOT's action sends a clear message that discrimination in air travel won't be tolerated. Lufthansa's treatment of Jewish passengers based on their appearance was a blatant violation of civil rights. The airline's subsequent efforts to address antisemitism and discrimination are necessary steps to prevent future incidents.
The incident resulted from a series of miscommunications and misjudgments, not intentional discrimination. Lufthansa has fully cooperated with the DOT review process and taken proactive measures to improve its practices. The airline remains committed to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.