Lawsuits: Jews Face Bias at Delta

Delta Air Lines is facing a series of lawsuits in New York and Philadelphia that claim a pattern of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel discrimination by the Atlanta-based company.

“Delta Air Lines has engaged in a pattern of intentionally discriminating and retaliating against ethnically Jewish, Hebrew and/or Israeli employees and passengers traveling to Israel, based upon their race and ancestry, and of intentionally discriminating against non-Jewish Flight Attendants who have associated with Jewish Flight Attendants or customers, or were perceived to be so associated,” reads a civil suit filed in Brooklyn on Jan. 2 by Cynthia Fukelman, Tsipora Kuba, Young Sook Sanchez and Anthony Panza.

All four worked as flight attendants on Delta’s New York-Tel Aviv route. Fukelman and Kuba are Jewish. Sanchez used her travel companion benefits for someone who is Jewish. Panza claims to have faced a hostile workplace merely for associated with Jews or Hebrew speakers.

Two more plaintiffs emerged in Philadelphia, using the same lawyer as the New York plaintiffs: Brian Mildenberg of Philadelphia. Israeli-American Nahum Amir, a mechanic, and Yaron Gilinsky, a native of Israel, have filed lawsuits, JTA reported Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Gilinsky’s case is being linked with the lawsuit of his fellow flight attendants in New York.

The allegations in the lawsuits include being wrongfully fired or otherwise disciplined, being blocked from deserved promotions, being scrutinized for having Jewish travel companions, and being subjected to anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli comments.

In a statement Jan. 3, Delta said it “strongly condemns the allegations of discrimination described in this suit and will defend itself vigorously against them. As a global airline that brings people across the world together every day, Delta values diversity in all aspects of its business and has zero tolerance for discrimination.”

The airline has not formally responded to the New York lawsuit, according to court records.