Kuwait Airways Refusing Israeli Passengers Again

[Metro man]

After doing it on their New York - London flight, same deal on Frankfurt - Bangkok. The booking site won't let you enter Israel in the nationality field.


Kuwait Airways 'within its rights' to ban Israeli - German court - BBC News (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42017874)

[Tango23]

Well, it's pure bigotry but every airline has the right to set up these kind of rules, it's their airline after all.

[ironbutt57]

who wants to ride on them anyway?

[diamantaire]

Never knew they flew fra-bkk.
How did they get these 5th& 6th freedome routes.
Would not fley with them either , for other reasons though.

[thatwasclose]

Well, it's pure bigotry but every airline has the right to set up these kind of rules, it's their airline after all.

Well not sure how many Palestians are allow to travel freely . That’s bigotry as well .

[Avenger]

Half the story:

A German court has ruled that the Kuwaiti national airline can legally refuse to seat and fly Israeli passengers.

The case dates back to 2016, when Kuwait Airways canceled the ticket of an Israeli student who had booked a seat on a flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok after realizing that he held an Israeli passport. Kuwait Airways offered to book him a seat on a different airline, but "Adar M," as the plaintiff was known in court filings, refused the offer and sued for alleged discrimination.

Kuwait does not recognize the state of Israel, and has a law on the books barring Kuwaitis from entering "into an agreement, personally or indirectly, with entities or persons residing in Israel, or with Israeli citizenship.”

On Thursday, a court in Germany sided with the Kuwaitis — saying the company would face repercussions at home for violating national law.

The passenger’s lawyer, Nathan Gelbart, called the ruling a "shameful verdict for democracy and for Germany in general.” The Central Council on Jews in Germany likened the law to Nazi era restrictions.

The German foreign ministry said Friday morning that they will push for a change of heart by the Kuwaitis. "It is incomprehensible to me that in today's Germany a passenger cannot board a plane simply because of his nationality,” Germany’s deputy foreign minister, Michael Roth, told the German daily newspaper Die Welt.

Although the airline offered a solution the passenger decided to take this action..why?

The aircraft represents the State of Kuwait and as such has to abide the the laws of Kuwait.

[Metro man]

Many of these cases are bought to highlight the boycott rather than because the passenger really wanted to travel on Kuwait Airways. There are other options available on their fifth freedom routes even though KU may have the lowest fare.

The ME3 carry Israelis and even have a Kosher meal option available, through transit at the hub is allowed though entry may be prohibited into the country.

Personally, I wouldn't want to give my business to an airline that didn't want me and was from a country that regarded my country as it's enemy. The refusal has stopped ticket sales on London - New York and must be costing them a fortune.