Lufthansa to Pay $4 Million Penalty for Alleged Discrimination Against Jewish Passengers at Frankfurt Airport

Lufthansa

Lufthansa Agrees to $4 Million Penalty for Alleged Discrimination Against Jewish Passengers

Lufthansa has reached a settlement with the U.S. Transportation Department, agreeing to pay a $4 million penalty for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers attempting to board a connecting flight in Frankfurt in May 2022.

The incident involved 128 Jewish passengers, most of whom were wearing traditional garments associated with Orthodox Judaism. They were denied boarding for a flight to Budapest after being grouped together based on alleged misbehavior by a few individuals.

Investigations by the Transportation Department revealed that many passengers did not know each other and were not traveling as a group, yet Lufthansa treated them collectively.

The passengers had flown from New York to Frankfurt when they were barred from boarding the connecting flight. Under the terms of the consent order, Lufthansa will pay $2 million in penalties and receive credit for another $2 million previously paid to the affected passengers as compensation.

Lufthansa did not admit to any violations but expressed regret over the incident, which it attributed to a series of communication errors and misjudgments during the decision-making process. The airline has publicly apologized multiple times and emphasized its commitment to improving its practices.

Since the incident, Lufthansa has collaborated with the American Jewish Committee to develop a pioneering training program aimed at addressing antisemitism and discrimination within the airline industry.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of ensuring civil rights for all travelers, 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." This penalty marks the largest ever issued by the DOT against an airline for civil rights violations.

Lufthansa to Pay $4 Million Penalty for Alleged Discrimination Against Jewish Passengers at Frankfurt Airport