Simon Wiesenthal Centre urges International Air Transport Association to Investigate Delta/Saudi discriminatory policies

CENTRE SIMON WIESENTHAL - EUROPE
66, rue Laugier
75017 Paris-France
Tel:+33(0)1 47 23 76 37
Fax:+33(0)1 47 20 84 01

Paris 27 June, 2011

In a letter to Peter Hartman, Chairman and Tony Tyler, Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations,Dr. Shimon Samuels, urged an enquiry into the ramifications of a Delta Airlines - Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) partnership for Christian and Jewish passengers.

Samuels stressed the Centre's concern "at diverse media reports regarding the announced air services agreement between Delta Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA). Contradictory claimsregarding the ramifications of the accord for Christian and Jewish passengers require an enquiry by a reputable professional arbiter."

The letter continued, "IATA sets as its mission statement to 'fight for the interest of airlines across the globe [in] challenging unreasonable rules [of governments]'," adding "it would beunderstatement to call 'unreasonable rules' the Saudi ban on Bibles, crucifixes, stars of David and other non-Muslim appartenances in their country. As its flag airline and a state cooperation,SAA must apply this policy. Indeed, Riyadh is notorious for, selectively, harassing Jewish visitors."

Samuels noted that "when challenged, a Delta spokesperson reportedly allowed that 'visa requirements to enter any country are dictated by that nation's government, not the airlines', adding thatDelta would not codeshare with SAA nor grant its frequent flier miles to SAA passengers."

"These responses," suggested the letter, "are possibly specious and certainly irrelevant, for SAA's 2012 entry into the Sky Team Alliance - strongly sponsored by Delta - would make full passengerexchange rights contractual", also stressing that "rival airline groups, such as the Star Alliance and One World, may fly to Saudi Arabia, but have not, thereby endorsed that country's racistpolicy."

The Centre urged "IATA to determine whether the Delta - SAA partnership makes the former complicit in bigotry and discrimination - a position inimical to IATA's declared mission 'to help airlinesto help themselves in increasing passenger convenience' - while consigning Delta's slogan 'Caring more for you' to the realm of tragicomedy."

"If IATA deems that SAA's practise is arguably discriminatory and Delta an accomplice by association, IATA must take appropriate action," concluding, "at that point, Saudi Arabian Airlinesadhesion to the SkyTeam must be cancelled."

The letter was share with Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam's Managing Director.

For further information contact Dr. Shimon Samuels on 0033(0)609770158, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updatessent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agenciesincluding the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).