The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a record $4 million penalty on Lufthansa following an incident in 2022 where the airline denied Jewish passengers access to a connecting flight due to alleged violations of in-flight mask rules.
The DOT described the airline’s actions as discriminatory, citing that passengers were unfairly treated “as if they were all a single group,” despite not all being connected to one another.
The fine is the largest the DOT has ever levied against an airline for civil rights violations. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “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.”
The incident occurred in May 2022, involving passengers traveling from New York to Budapest with a layover in Frankfurt. Many of those affected were visibly Orthodox Jewish men, identifiable by their traditional attire.
According to the DOT, the travelers had booked tickets through a few common travel agencies. During the initial flight, the captain reported to Lufthansa security that some passengers had failed to adhere to mask requirements and had been congregating in aisles.
In response to the captain’s alert, Lufthansa placed holds on the tickets of more than 100 passengers, all of whom were Jewish, preventing them from boarding the connecting flight.
The DOT investigation revealed that the airline’s actions also affected individuals who had complied with the in-flight instructions.
The agency noted that while Lufthansa acknowledged the potential impact on rule-abiding passengers, it deemed addressing each individual’s compliance as impractical.
While the majority of the passengers were rebooked on other flights later that day, the incident prompted widespread backlash, raising concerns over discriminatory practices by the airline.
During the investigation, passengers interviewed reported not witnessing any misconduct, and Lufthansa failed to identify specific individuals who had violated the rules.
However, in its consent order, the airline explained that the widespread nature of the infractions, combined with the continual misconduct over a substantial portion of the flight and passengers changing seats, made it difficult for staff to pinpoint violators.
Lufthansa, in a consent order, agreed to the payment to avoid litigation but denied any discriminatory intent, attributing the incident to “an unfortunate series of inaccurate communications.”
The airline reiterated its commitment to promoting goodwill and diversity, stating, “Lufthansa is dedicated to being an ambassador of tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.”
The company added that it had fully cooperated with the investigation and would continue to focus on enhancing staff training to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The $4 million penalty includes $2 million in fines, with the remaining $2 million credited to Lufthansa for compensation already paid to affected passengers as part of a legal settlement.
The DOT’s action serves as a reminder to the airline industry about the importance of safeguarding passenger rights and adhering to anti-discrimination laws in travel.