Delta Air Lines got caught in a viral vortex of politics and religion over criticism -- which a spokeswoman for the Atlanta airline termed “offensive” -- of its alliance with Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Stories circulating online and in blogs this week raised questions about how Jewish or other non-Muslim travelers to Saudi Arabia would be affected by the plan, announced in January, for the carrier to join Delta’s SkyTeam alliance next year.
The U.S. State Department website says there have been “reports by U.S. citizens that they were refused a Saudi visa because their passports reflected travel to Israel or indicated that they were born in Israel.” That led some to contend Delta may ban Jews and others from flights to Saudi Arabia.
“The idea that we’re banning Jews from our flights is offensive,” said Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott. “It doesn’t matter where the flight is going. If someone has a ticket, proper documentation and has passed the mandated airport security screening, we welcome them on board.”
The airline added in a statement: “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.”
Delta also said its alliance stops short of ‘code-share’ flights, in which the two airlines would sell seats on each others’ flights. Delta already has an “interline” agreement with Saudi Arabian that enables passengers to book tickets on multiple carriers, along with tools to facilitate that. Other airlines including American, US Airways and Alaska Airlines have a similar set-up with Saudi Arabian, Delta said.
Nonetheless, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois sent a memo to the Federal Aviation Administration chief on Friday asking for an investigation into whether Delta violated any law or regulation.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement saying: “We expect Delta, and any other American airline which flies to Riyadh or partners with an airline that flies there to ensure that its passengers -whatever their faith -- not be discriminated against, and that no American airline in any way enable, or facilitate this discrimination, whatever the regulations of Saudi Arabia.”
The Government of Saudi Arabia issued a statement saying it “does not deny visas to U.S. Citizens based on their religion.”
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