WASHINGTON: Germany’s flagship airline, Lufthansa, has been fined $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) following allegations of discrimination against a group of Jewish passengers. The incident, which occurred in May 2022, involved the airline denying boarding to 128 individuals wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing, according to NBC News.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the DOT reported that Lufthansa’s actions were based on the alleged misconduct of some passengers. The airline staff treated the entire group as a single entity, despite many passengers not knowing one another or traveling together. The incident reportedly stemmed from some individuals allegedly violating the airline’s mask policy. Video footage from the time showed Lufthansa staff informing passengers that “everyone has to pay” for the mistakes of a few, defining “everyone” as “Jewish coming from JFK.” German media reported that boarding was denied based on passengers’ appearance, specifically citing y
armulkes and sidelocks.
The $4 million fine is the largest ever issued by the DOT for a civil rights violation involving an airline. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of this penalty, stating, “No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated.”
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s special envoy against antisemitism, expressed disbelief over the incident in 2022, telling NBC News that the details were “unbelievable” and worse than initially reported.
In response to the fine, Lufthansa stated it had fully cooperated with the DOT during its investigation and had partnered with the American Jewish Committee to prevent similar incidents. The airline announced the development of a training program for managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination, reaffirming its commitmen
t to “goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.”
At the time of the incident, Lufthansa apologized, asserting a “zero tolerance” policy for racism, antisemitism, and discrimination. Lipstadt highlighted the irony of the situation, noting the outrage due to the actions coming from Germany’s national airline.