WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) issued two guidance documents emphasizing that federal law guarantees all passengers the right to fly free from discrimination. The documents supersede prior non-discrimination guidance issued by the U.S. DoT and were developed in collaboration with representatives of airlines and civil rights organizations.

The first document, Guidance for Airline Personnel on Nondiscrimination in Air Travel, contains example scenarios to help airline employees and contractors understand their legal obligation not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry in air travel. The second document, Passengers’ Right to Fly Free from Discrimination, uses a question-and-answer format to assist the flying public understand their rights when flying on commercial airlines.

In November 2016, the Department began reporting more detailed information about discrimination complaints that it receives in its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. The report now specifically identifies the numbers of complaints by protected class: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry/ethnicity. Prior reports listed only the total number of discrimination-related complaints sent to the U.S. DoT. The enhanced reporting is intended to provide more transparency regarding the number of complaints that the U.S. DoT receives in each of the protected classes.

The U.S. DoT's Office of General Counsel’s investigates all complaints alleging discriminatory treatment by airline personnel and pursues enforcement cases against airlines for unlawful discrimination. Members of the public who feel they have been the subject of discriminatory actions or treatment by airlines may file a complaint with the U.S. DoT at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm.

The Guidance for Airline Personnel on Nondiscrimination in Air Travel and Passengers’ Right to Fly Free from Discrimination are available at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news.

Source: U.S. DoT
Associated URL: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot1317
Author: U.S. DoT