IN THE latest—and possibly most alarming—in a recent string of allegations of racism against airlines, two black musicians claim they were downgraded from business class on a British Airways-branded flight in South Africa to make room for a white woman. Thabo Mabogwane and Bongani Mohosana, a South African musical duo known as Black Motion, purchased business-class tickets for a flight on December 4th from Cape Town to Johannesburg on the South African-based Comair, branded in British Airways’ colours. They wrote on Instagram, a social-media website, that a white woman in business class complained that her seat was broken, and they “happened to be the only two young black men in the British airline business class.” They were asked to move to economy class, and when they complained they were told to leave the plane, both claim.
The airline denied to the Independent that race had anything to do with its actions. Instead, its spokesman said, two business-class passengers had broken seats because the carrier had failed to remove those seats from the check-in system. Because the passengers had elite frequent-flyer status, they were given priority, and Mr Mabogwane and Mr Mohosana, who were not frequent flyers, were asked to downgrade.
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British Airways’ franchisee in South Africa throws off two black passengers
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That may be the case, but the Economic Freedom Fighters, a major left-wing party in South Africa’s parliament, is not buying it. The party wants the entire crew to be suspended and subject to prosecution. “British Airways can go fly in its colonial and ever racist Britain,” a party spokesperson said. “Whomsoever is white and not willing to treat black people with dignity and respect must simply leave our country.”
Clearly the incident merits further investigation before any conclusions are reached. But even if it was as innocent as Comair says, the perception of racism in aviation is growing. In October, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), America’s oldest civil-rights organisation, issued a travel advisory for American Airlines, warning black flyers of mounting complaints of alleged racism on the carrier. The group cited four recent incidents that “suggest a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias.” Officials from the NAACP and American met in late November, and the airline agreed to train its employees to counteract their biases. The NAACP praised the announcement but, very notably, did not lift its advisory.
Comair says it has investigated the matter and asked Mr Mabogwane and Mr Mohosana if they would like an independent investigation. These steps, like those taken by American, are helpful. But the fact remains that as these stories mount, some black flyers will continue to feel uncomfortable in the skies. It will take a whole lot more action on the part of airlines to change that.
Source: economist
British Airways’ franchisee in South Africa throws off two black passengers