The US Department of Transportation has imposed a hefty fine of $4 million on Lufthansa for discriminating against Jewish passengers on a flight in 2022. The incident occurred when some passengers allegedly did not comply with the face mask requirement, leading to the airline treating all Jewish passengers as a single group, even though they were not traveling together.
Lufthansa has denied any discrimination but agreed to the payment to avoid litigation. The airline stated that it is committed to promoting goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance. The Department of Transportation stated that this penalty is the largest ever issued against an airline for civil rights violations.
The passengers affected were traveling from New York to Budapest with a layover in Frankfurt. Many of them were Orthodox Jewish men who had booked their tickets through a few specific travel agencies. During the initial flight, some passengers reportedly did not follow the crew’s instructions regarding masks and movement within the aircraft, leading to the captain alerting security.
As a result, over 100 Jewish passengers had their tickets put on hold, causing them to miss their connecting flight. Lufthansa acknowledged that this action impacted passengers who had followed the rules but stated that addressing each individual passenger was not feasible at the time. Most of the affected passengers were rebooked on alternative flights the same day.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that no one should experience discrimination while traveling, and the Department of Transportation will investigate and take action against such violations. Despite Lufthansa’s inability to identify specific passengers who violated the rules, the airline cited the widespread nature of the infractions and the changing seating arrangements during the flight.
In the consent order, Lufthansa agreed to pay $2 million, with the remaining $2 million credited from a previous settlement with affected passengers. The Department of Transportation’s decision serves as a warning to the airline industry regarding the importance of upholding passengers’ civil rights and ensuring fair treatment for all travelers.