Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, has been fined a record $4 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for discriminating against 128 Jewish passengers. The fine follows a May 2022 incident in which the airline denied boarding to the passengers, who were identifiable by their Orthodox Jewish attire, citing the “misbehavior of a few.” The passengers, however, did not know each other and were not traveling together.
The passengers were prevented from boarding their connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest after flying from New York. The DOT investigation found that the decision to bar them was discriminatory, resulting in the largest civil rights penalty ever imposed by the agency.
In a statement, Lufthansa said the incident was caused by “inaccurate communications, misinterpretations, and misjudgments” but argued that there was no evidence to support a finding of discrimination. The airline acknowledged the misbehavior of some passengers, including failure to follow safety instructions and mask-wearing rules, but maintained that this should not have led to a blanket denial of boarding for all 128 passengers.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that the fine sends a strong message to the airline industry, stating, “No one should face discrimination when they travel.”
In response, Lufthansa said it has been cooperating with the DOT and has partnered with Jewish organizations, such as the American Jewish Committee, to develop employee training programs aimed at addressing antisemitism and discrimination.
The airline reiterated its commitment to promoting goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.
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