The NAACP has issued a warning regarding black travelers who fly on American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL).
The agency sent an advisory late Tuesday, noting that it has been informed of “a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines.”
The NAACP said it has heard of at least four incidents related to black travelers, which “suggest a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias.”
One such example involved a black woman and her baby being removed from an Atlanta to New York flight after she asked for her stroller to be brought in from checked baggage before leaving the plane.
Another case involved a black woman who had first-class tickets for herself and a white companion, but was moved to coach at the ticket counter while her companion was kept in first class.
On a third instance, a black man had to give up his seat for responding “to disrespectful and discriminatory comments” that two white passengers directed at him. Finally, a black woman was removed from a flight after she complained about her seat being changed without her consent.
“Booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them [to] disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions,” the advisory said. The airline said it was disappointed by this warning.
American Airlines reportedly reached out to the NAACP to meet with them. The agency president Derrick Johnson had also requested to meet with the airline’s leaders.
“We fly over borders, walls and stereotypes to connect people from different races, religions, nationalities, economic backgrounds and sexual orientations,” CEO Doug Parker wrote in a memo that the company released to reporters. “We do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
AAL stock fell 2.3% Wednesday.
