Lufthansa agrees to a record $4 million fine for its treatment of Jewish passengers
NPR Online NewsOCT 12 2024
In the biggest ever civil rights penalty on an airline, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Lufthansa $4M for discriminating against Jews in 2022.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 allegedly refused to board 128 orthodox Jewish passengers on a Frankfurt-Budapest connecting flight, though many didn't know each other or travel together.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.
The German airline's staff reportedly treated them as a single group following the alleged misbehavior of a few individuals on their initial flight from New York.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. The Lufthansa staff's behavior involved a blatant violation of civil rights. The airline's subsequent efforts to address antisemitism and discrimination were necessary to prevent future incidents.
The incident was caused by miscommunication and misjudgement, 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.