Lufthansa Fined $4 Million for Discriminating Against Jewish Passengers

Lufthansa has agreed to a $4 million penalty imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for allegedly discriminating against Jewish passengers in May 2022.

The airline barred 128 Jewish travelers, most wearing Orthodox Jewish garments, from boarding a connecting flight in Frankfurt due to the alleged misbehavior of some passengers.

Despite Lufthansa's denial of discrimination, the USDOT stated that it was the largest fine ever imposed on an airline for civil rights violations. The passengers, who had flown from New York to Frankfurt, were heading to Budapest but were collectively treated as a single group based on the actions of a few.

Lufthansa has since apologized and launched a training program, in partnership with the American Jewish Committee, to address antisemitism and discrimination within the airline. Although the airline did not admit to any violations, it agreed to pay $2 million directly and was credited with an additional $2 million already compensated to passengers.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that the ruling sends a strong message to the airline industry about the consequences of violating passengers' civil rights.