German domestic airline Lufthansa has been fined $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation for allegedly discriminating against a group of Jewish passengers. In May 2022, the airline reportedly prevented 128 passengers, many of them dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb, from boarding a connecting flight in Germany during their trip from New York to Budapest.
“Based on the alleged misconduct of some passengers,” DOT stated, Lufthansa staff “treated them all as if they were a single group and denied them boarding,” despite many of the passengers not knowing each other nor traveling together.
Specifically, some individuals in the group allegedly disobeyed Lufthansa’s mask policy that was in effect at the time. Video of the incident shows airline staff telling passengers that “everyone must pay” for the actions of a few, identifying “everyone” as “Jews from JFK.” German media later reported that those presumed to be Jewish were denied boarding based on visible signs, such as wearing kippahs (Jewish headgear) or side stockings (payot).
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that discrimination in travel is unacceptable, 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.”
Lufthansa stated Tuesday that it had fully cooperated with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s investigation and had partnered with the American Jewish Committee following the incident.
“Through our ongoing collaboration, we have curated a first-of-its kind training program in the airline industry for our managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination,” the company said. “Lufthansa is dedicated to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.”
At the time, Lufthansa issued an apology for the incident, stating that it maintains “zero tolerance for racism, antisemitism, or any form of discrimination.”
