Lufthansa fined ‘record’ $4 million for barring access to Jewish passengers

US authorities have fined Lufthansa a record $4 million after finding the airline discriminated against more than 100 Jewish travelers by preventing them from boarding a flight in 2022, they said. officials said Tuesday.

The 128 passengers were denied boarding a connecting flight after a few failed to follow instructions, including Covid mask requirements, on a flight between the United States and Germany, US transport authorities said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said the penalty imposed for the May 3, 2022, denied boarding in Frankfurt was the heaviest ever issued for a civil rights violation.

The travelers – who wore distinctive clothing including black hats and jackets – told investigators they were treated as if they were one group, even though many were not flying together and did not know each other.

Lufthansa denied boarding to “everyone due to the apparent bad behavior of a few, because they were openly and visibly Jewish,” DOT authorities said in a statement.

Read also

How a Tunisian pilot’s experience saved the Super Eagles from a plane crash in Libya

The problem began when the captain of the first flight reported to Lufthansa security that some passengers were not following the rules, including wearing masks during travel and not standing in groups in or near aisles. emergency exits.

DOT authorities received more than 40 complaints of discrimination from Jewish passengers in this case.

Lufthansa told the DOT that it had publicly apologized numerous times for preventing passengers from continuing their journeys, but denied any suggestion that any of its employees had engaged in any form of discrimination.

In a statement following the fine announcement, the airline said it had implemented a new training program “to combat anti-Semitism and discrimination.”

Source: AFP