There are those out there making political hay at Delta’s expense claiming they (Delta) are complicit in discrimination against Jews because of (at the core) Delta’s participation in the Sky Team alliance which Saudi Arabian Airlines is joining.

Let’s be clear about something at the outset.  Saudi Arabia does not permit the issuance of visas to any Jew for travel to or transit through Saudi Arabia.  Furthermore, airlines are required to not board people to travel to countries requiring visas when those people do not have the required visa.  This is as true for travel to Australia as it is for travel to Saudi Arabia.

Is it discriminatory for Saudi Arabia to have its policites?  In my opinion, yes.  However, I’ll also point out that Saudi Arabia is a sovereign nation that gets to make its own laws whether they are rational and sensible or not.

Is Delta discrminating? In my opinion, they are not.  It’s notable that Delta, at present, has no flights to Saudi Arabia.  Also notable is the fact that there are other nations that have similar laws with respect to Jews.

Delta isn’t a national flag airline.  They are a US based airline complying with law.  To make their operation about politics is bad on the part of everyone involved in this.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax
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