Earlier this year Delta Airlines announced it is adding Saudi Arabian Airlines to its SkyTeam Alliance, a partnership that requires Delta to ban Jews and travelers who have an Israeli passport from boarding flights to Saudi Arabia.
In an interview, Delta’s coordinator of Customer Care, Kathy M. Johnston, explained that Delta does not condone discrimination for any reason but said that the airline must abide by the laws of the countries they serve. In fact, Delta could be fined if they bring Jews into Saudi Arabia, since the government denies them from entering the country.
FIne … but most people are asking why an organization that claims not to condone discrimination would partner with a company that openly and unapologetically practices it:
Jeffrey Lovitky, a Washington attorney who has contacted Delta officials and board members to protest the agreement, told The Jewish Week Thursday that their decision to form an alliance with Saudi Arabian Airlines was “purely voluntary” and something they could control. A flight to Saudi Arabia “is essentially a Jew-free flight,” Lovitky said, adding that his assertion is “common knowledge” among professionals in the travel industry. “No individual can admit to being Jewish and still be permitted on that flight.” It’s inconceivable that Delta wasn’t aware of that discrimination, he said, and it’s even more astounding that the company’s officials “thought it prudent to enter an alliance with a carrier that practices such policies.”
In a Huffington Post op-ed, Rabbi Jason Miller says what many in the Jewish community must be thinking right now:
I know I’m not the only one who finds it troubling that Delta would go along with Saudi Arabia’s policy of not allowing Jews on their flights. While I’m not planning a vacation to Riyadh any time soon, I would have a hard time flying with Delta knowing they are collaborating with the discriminatory government of Saudi Arabia.
Regular Delta fliers, take note.
What do you think?
7:36 am
Delta has made a grave decision..there loss will be overwhlming. My family and I, my friends and associates will no longer fly Delta anywhere it goes. The other airlines will benefit greatly!!!
6:38 pm
If this is true…I will not fly with Delta again.
12:23 pm
IS this true?
5:16 pm
Goodbye, Delta. My family will NEVER use you as long as you are antisemitic. Wake up. God will not tolerate this hatred.
4:50 pm
Sorry Delta, you have shot yourself in the foot and Hashem will forever look out for the Jewish people. He said I will bless those that bless the people of Israel and CURSE those who do Israel or her people harm.
I have always been fascinated by the swift punishment from G-D after harsh dealings with either Israel or its people. You have made your bed Delta, now you will have to deal with the consequences.
ישראל לעד בבת עינו יוצרי והוא מעולם לא מנמנם ולא ישן ותמיד להחזיק אותה תחת חסותו.
2:31 pm
Sorry Delta. You just lost my whole family, and we used to fly Delta a lot!
2:24 pm
No more flying on Delta for me. Pass the word to your friends! Get everyone you know to boycott Delta. There are certainly more airlines to chose from!!
5:31 am
…NON HO MAI VOLATO,CON LA COMPAGNIA AEREA DELTA
E SONO SICURO,CHE NON L’HO FARO NEL FUTURO……
QUESTA E UNA OFFESA GRAVEMENTE INCONCEPIBLE PER
IL POPOLO DI ISRAELE……
8:45 pm
My family will not fly Delta again.
Wherever we stand, we stand with Israel!
Zachor! Remember!
5:17 pm
Delta your way out if line on this one!!! Bless Israel
3:36 pm
HEY, HAS ANYONE CHECKED HOW DELTA AIRLINES STOCKS ARE DOING LATELY. If they drop low enough we can always buy a majority share and kick out the board. I just love capitolism
1:45 pm
Delta is going to lose many customers. This story is spreading like wildfire. If you don’t get it, put any other ethnicity or nationality in exchange for the word Jew and see how it sounds.
1:01 pm
I will be contacting my Congressmen regarding an investigation into Delta’s obvious corporate discriminatory practices and poorly veiled bigotry.
7:09 am
its unbelievable! i pray for peace in jerusalum, God is love
9:10 am
I hope Delta goes bankrupt within 30 days to show GOD’s hand on them for touching HIS annointed.
8:21 am
Shame on You Delta! I will NEVER fly Delta and will ask my friends and family to do the same
6:57 am
I will never fly Delta again and will share this story with the masses.
6:41 am
One more drop in the bucket of “the new Caliphate.” Evil prospers when good people do not stand against evil, but DELTA does not fly to Saudia Arabia. USA buys oil from Saudia. Where do we draw the line?
7:41 pm
We are all from Father Abraham.. My Mom taught us this poem”
Roses are redish
Violets are bluish
If it wasn’t for Christmas
We all would be Jewish!!
(feel free to borrow)
5:58 pm
Not only did I repost this on FaceBook, but I’m going to do an ongoing public event to boycott Delta. I also forwarded it to an anchor person here.
3:44 pm
Done with Delta….just shared on my Facebook also! Everyone should do the same!
4:21 pm
We too are so shocked that Delta did this. We knew Mr. Beidenharn, who owned lots of stock while he was living, and he would not approve of this. Shame on you Delta.
3:23 pm
IF EVERYONE TOOK A LOOK AT THEIR FAMILY ANCESTRY, WE ARE ALL JEWS FROM THE BEGINNING, I AM NOT A JEW, BUT ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER, ARE JEWS FROM THE BEING OF TIME. DO AN ANCESTRY OF YOUR FAMILY LINE, WE ALL DATE BACK TO JEWISH, BUT AS LIFE WENT ON FAMILY TOOK DIFFERENT ROOTS ELSEWHERE, AND RELIGION CHANGES THROUGH OUT THOSE YEARS. I STAND FOR THE JEWS.
3:01 pm
We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem.and that His mercy and justice is acomplished.Elohim is not mocked what we sow we reap.We must stand up for the weak and not turn a blind eye to hatered.
2:47 pm
I stand with Israel. I will not fly delta airlines.
2:45 pm
Well, I won’t be using Delta ever again and will tell everyone I know!
2:43 pm
WOW!how sad for DELTA. Not only will I not fly DELTA, you can bet I’ll spread like wildfire to my friends and family. NOT FLY DELTA
2:39 pm
I will no longer fly Delta Airlines as my way of saying, “I support Israel and Israeli’s”. Stupid decision by Delta.
2:20 pm
Sorry Delta. Just lost me.
2:08 pm
I will never fly on DELTA airlines again. I stand with Israel and I am not ashamed. Praise the Lord.
12:44 pm
It’s all about money. In trying to secure financial increase or stability in this manner, surely, the opposite will occur.