US imposes record $4m penalty on Lufthansa for discriminating against Jewish passengers

The US Department of Transportation has levied a historic $4 million fine against Lufthansa for barring Jewish passengers from a 2022 flight due to alleged non-compliance with mask rules.

The DOT ruled that Lufthansa engaged in discriminatory practices by targeting the passengers as a single group, despite many not traveling together or knowing one another.

“Lufthansa is dedicated to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance,” the company said in a statement, stressing that it had cooperated with the investigation and remained focused on training for its staff.

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The incident occurred in May 2022 on a flight from New York to Budapest with a Frankfurt connection. Lufthansa security alerted the captain that some passengers had failed to follow crew instructions regarding mask-wearing and gathering in aisles.

Consequently, over 100 Jewish passengers, identifiable by their distinctive Orthodox garb, had their tickets halted, preventing them from boarding their connecting flight.

Lufthansa agreed to the penalty to avoid litigation but denied discrimination, attributing the incident to “inaccurate communications.” The DOT deemed this the largest civil rights violation penalty ever issued against an airline.