Lufthansa Faces $4 Million Fine for Discrimination Against Jewish Passengers
The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Lufthansa $4 million for discriminatory actions against Jewish passengers, marking the largest civil rights penalty ever issued to an airline.
In May 2022, Lufthansa barred over 100 Jewish passengers from a connecting flight due to a mask compliance issue, treating them as a homogenous group despite their lack of connection to each other. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Lufthansa $4 million for this action, citing civil rights violations. Lufthansa has agreed to pay the fine to avoid litigation, denying discrimination and citing communication errors as the cause. They emphasized their commitment to diversity and cooperation with the investigation. The incident arose from a flight between New York and Budapest with a layover in Frankfurt. The passengers, many distinctively dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire, mostly booked through the same agencies. Despite allegations of non-compliance with mask mandates, the DOT's investigation revealed no substantial evidence of misconduct, as passengers were rebooked on alternate flights. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that discrimination has no place in travel, and the message to the airline industry is clear: civil rights violations will be thoroughly investigated and penalized. The fine comprises $2 million cash and an additional $2 million in previous compensations to affected passengers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Lufthansa $4 million for discriminatory actions against Jewish passengers, marking the largest civil rights penalty ever issued to an airline.
In May 2022, Lufthansa barred over 100 Jewish passengers from a connecting flight due to a mask compliance issue, treating them as a homogenous group despite their lack of connection to each other. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined Lufthansa $4 million for this action, citing civil rights violations. Lufthansa has agreed to pay the fine to avoid litigation, denying discrimination and citing communication errors as the cause. They emphasized their commitment to diversity and cooperation with the investigation. The incident arose from a flight between New York and Budapest with a layover in Frankfurt. The passengers, many distinctively dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire, mostly booked through the same agencies. Despite allegations of non-compliance with mask mandates, the DOT's investigation revealed no substantial evidence of misconduct, as passengers were rebooked on alternate flights. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that discrimination has no place in travel, and the message to the airline industry is clear: civil rights violations will be thoroughly investigated and penalized. The fine comprises $2 million cash and an additional $2 million in previous compensations to affected passengers.
