Delta Airlines Responds to Accusations of No Jews Allowed

Yesterday we reported about Delta Air Lines' plan to add Saudi Arabian Airlines to its SkyTeam Alliance of  partnering companies would require the American carrier to ban Jews and holders of Israeli passports from boarding flights from New York or Washington bound for Jeddah, prompting outraged accusations of illegal religious discrimination. (WND)   Now Delta Airlines reponds to all the blog postings, emails and phone calls.

Airline to Jewish rumor: 'Delta does not discriminate.' (via Faith and Reason blog, USA Today) 

[snip]

Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter responded with its non-discrimination policy and posted on their blog:

We've gotten questions today from you, our concerned customers, following an article about Saudi Arabian Airlines joining SkyTeam (the global airline alliance that includes Delta as a member). After listening to many of your thoughts today, we'd like to take this opportunity to share some information and help to clarify some of the questions we know you have.

First and foremost, I think one of the most important things to mention here is that Delta does not discriminate nor do we condone discrimination against anyone in regards to age, race, nationality, religion, or gender.

That said, some have raised questions about whether Saudi Arabian Airlines' membership in SkyTeam means Delta is adopting any type of policies that could present barriers to travel for some passengers, including Jewish customers. For this particular concern, it's important to realize that visa requirements to enter any country are dictated by that nation's government, not the airlines, and they apply to anyone entering the country regardless of whether it's by plane, bus or train.

We, like all international airlines, are required to comply with all applicable laws governing entry into every country we serve. You as passengers are responsible for obtaining the necessary travel documents, such as visas and certification of required vaccinations, and we're responsible for making sure that you have the proper documentation before you board.

According to Religion News Service,

Saudi Arabia bans anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport from entering the country, even in transit. Many Jews believe the kingdom has also withheld visas from travelers with Jewish-sounding names.

Maybe. Jewish leader Rabbi Irwin Kula was wary about inflaming concerns on this, saying he knows many professionals who are very open about their Jewish religious identity who fly to Saudi Arabia all the time for business.

As the rumor of no-Jews traveled the Internet all day, Detroit rabbi and blogger Jason Miller points out:

The issue here is one of principle. Delta isn't being forced to include Saudi Arabian Airlines into its Sky Team Alliance. In fact, Delta could stand on principle and refuse to include Saudi Arabian Airlines based on its discriminatory policy.

Feel free to contact the airline yourself, read YID WITH LID's article here.

customer-care@delta.com

800-221-1212 (keep saying help until you get moved to a representative) 

Comments

[Jenny]

Thanks for this great article and the links. My feeling is, where there's smoke there's fire. I won't be flying Delta or any other airline except in an emergency so dire, there's no other reasonable way to get there.