Attorney says problems not addressed by airline assurance it won’t discriminate

By Bob Unruh

The New York Port Authority has been asked to investigate what state and federal anti-discrimination laws might be violated by imposing anti-Jewish Islamic restrictions on passengers boarding flights to Jeddah from the publicly owned JFK Airport.

The request has been brought by a Washington attorney who first raised questions about Delta Air Lines and its new agreement to include Saudi Arabian Airlines in its Sky Team Alliance of airlines.

Saudi Arabia bars Jews and passengers with Israeli passports and Israeli stamps in their passports from boarding flights to the desert kingdom.

“In this respect, the impact of any discriminatory conduct would take place at JFK airport, and not just inside of Saudi Arabia,” wrote attorney Jeffrey A. Lovitky in a recent letter to the agency.

WND has reported on the controversy since the issue first was raised by Lovitky.

Delta, which under the new agreement would facilitate flights from JFK and Dulles airports to Jeddah, has been accused of enabling or at least allowing illegal discrimination on U.S. soil.

Also banned would be items such as cross necklaces and Bibles.

Lovitky told WND he started raising the issue after finding out about the discriminatory practices at U.S. airports while making travel arrangements.

Delta recently tried to take itself out of the controversy by meeting with the Simon Wiesenthal Center and issuing a statement that it would not “request that customers declare their religious affiliation” and “would also not seek such information on behalf of any Sky Team partner or any airline.”

Lovitky told WND that doesn’t solve the violations.

Story continues: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=339585