Why the DOT just fined German airline Lufthansa $4 million

The Department of Transportation just issued a $4 million fine against German airline Lufthansa for violating the civil rights of a large group of Jewish passengers on May 4, 2022.
According to the DOT, Lufthansa prohibited 128 Jews, “most of whom wore distinctive garb typically worn by Orthodox Jewish men,” from boarding a connecting flight from Frankfurt to Budapest after initially departing from New York.
The incident occurred after some passengers allegedly did not wear masks during the first leg of their journey, at a time when the airline was still requiring all passengers to wear masks onboard. Many of the 128 passengers who were denied boarding were not traveling together and did not know each other.
“We regret that the large group was denied boarding, rather than limiting it to the non-compliant guests,” the airline said in a statement on social media a few days after the incident.
Lufthansa reached a civil settlement with the affected passengers in December 2022.
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Still, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement announcing the DOT’s fine on Tuesday that the airline was still liable for its violations.
“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,” he said. “From cracking down on long tarmac delays to ensuring passengers are properly refunded, our department has strengthened our enforcement efforts to hold airlines accountable for their treatment of passengers, and we will continue to push the industry to serve passengers with the fairness and dignity they deserve.” 
In a statement responding to the fine, Lufthansa said it fully cooperated with the DOT throughout the investigation and has been working with the American Jewish Committee to improve its own antidiscrimination policies and practices.
“Through our ongoing collaboration, we have curated a first-of-its kind training program in the airline industry for our managers and employees to address antisemitism and discrimination,” the statement said. “As the first airline to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, Lufthansa will continue to foster a thoughtful dialogue with Jewish communities and organizations around the world.”
The DOT did not say how money from the fine would be used.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].