Kuwait Airlines prohibits Israeli from booking a flight, Faces possible discrimination charges from the US Federal

Kuwait Airways violated the anti-discrimination law set by the U.S. Federal after it prohibited an Israeli to book a ticket from the airlines online.  The Department Transportation  claimed that the airline must follow the law or else, it will not be allowed to enter the U.S. ports. The decision was announced on Wednesday, after an Israeli filed complaints in 2013.

A discrimination complaint filed with DOT two years ago by an Israeli national, Eldad Gatt, was rejected after the department found no sufficient evidence of discrimination. After he appealed, the case was reopened and further investigations were made.  This week, the department claimed that Kuwait Airways broke the federal law, and is now reversing its initial decision, Fox News reports.

According to USA Today, U.S. law states airlines "may not subject a person, place, port or type of traffic in foreign air transportation to unreasonable discrimination."

Blane Workie, DOT's assistant general counsel for enforcement wrote to Kuwait Airways and claimed that the airline company "unreasonably discriminated against Mr. Gatt ... by refusing to sell him a ticket on its flight from JFK to LHR." It further states that they expect the airlines to sell tickets to and transport Israeli citizens between the U.S. and any third country, where they are allowed to land. Another DOT official said that the case will serve as a warning to other airlines that wishes to operate in the U.S.

Two years ago, Gatt tried to book a ticket online for a flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London's Heathrow through Kuwait Airways. However, his attempt was unsuccessful when he entered his Israeli passport information. According to Economist, the Kuwait law bans its citizens from dealing with Israelis directly or indirectly.  

The department mentioned that Kuwait Airways may face civil penalties for the violation. They had given a period of 15 days for the airlines to respond to the decision.