Something’s not kosher with this airline.
Saudi Arabian Airlines is discriminating against Israeli
citizens by refusing to fly them from US airports — even when passengers are
simply looking to transfer in Saudi Arabia to another country, The Post has
learned.
The airline’s Web site asks for citizenship to book a ticket
but has no option on a drop-down menu for anyone holding an Israeli passport.
The oversight doesn’t appear accidental — the drop-down menu is so thorough it
even has an option for Antarctica.
“No city in the world has closer ties to Israel than we do,
and yet Israeli citizens are being discriminated against right here at JFK.
It’s not only illegal; it’s an affront to who we are,” said Public Advocate,
and mayoral candidate, Bill de Blasio, who conducted a recent telephone sting
on the Mideast nation’s airline.
“We won’t stop with
just exposing these practices. We’ll pursue this with authorities in Albany and
in Washington until Israeli nationals’ rights are respected,” added de Blasio,
who is demanding an end to the practice in a letter to the airline that was
obtained by The Post.
When a member of de Blasio’s staff called the airline
pretending to be an Israeli citizen trying to fly from JFK to Mumbai, India, on
Saudi Arabian Airlines, he was told it was a no-go.
The caller told the booking agent that he couldn’t find
Israel as an option on the Web site.
“I’m an Israeli citizen, and I didn’t see my nationality on
there. I was wondering if I could just order the ticket through you,” the
caller said.
The booking agent asked: “Do you have any other passports,
other than the Israeli passport?”
When the caller said he didn’t, the agent put him on hold to
check with a supervisor. The agent later informed the caller that he wouldn’t
be welcome.
“Since you have Israeli nationality, you will not be allowed
to go on Saudi Airlines,” the agent said.
The airline did not return several e-mails from The Post
seeking comment.
Federal law says an “air carrier or foreign air carrier may
not subject a person in air transportation to discrimination on the basis of
race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry.”
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