Kuwait Airways has been sued over denying service to an Israeli businessman who booked a flight from Munich to Sri Lanka in November.
This is the second case in which the Lawfare Project has represented Israelis barred from traveling from Germany by Kuwait Airways.
A previous case originally brought in 2017 involving the same discriminatory policy triggered outcry in Germany and remains under review by Germany’s Constitutional High Court after the Frankfurt-based High Court of Hesse dismissed the lawsuit in September.
The plaintiff in the latest case, known as Shmuel M, booked business class tickets from Munich to Colombo, which was the quickest flight to Sri Lanka available from that airport. When Shmuel M asked about the availability of kosher food on the flight, the airline asked whether he held an Israeli passport. When he confirmed that he did, he was told that he would be unable to travel and would need to speak to the airline’s lawyers for further information.
The lawsuit has been filed at the Landshut District Court, which has jurisdiction over Munich International Airport.
Kuwait Airways is yet to reply to the allegations. It is likely that a hearing will take place later this year, according to the Lawfare Project.
The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Time and again Kuwait Airways has shown itself to be a bigoted airline with a bigoted policy that should have no place in a modern liberal democracy. An airline that kicks Israelis off planes should be kicked out of Germany,” said Lawfare Project executive director Brooke Goldstein. “When a Jewish passenger is denied the right to travel after requesting a kosher meal—in Germany of all places—then anyone who respects the values of equality, fairness, and the rule of law should be appalled.”
