Sen. Kirk wants FAA to investigate alleged religious discrimination by Delta

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TheHill.com:

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk ® called Friday for the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate allegations Delta Airlines blocked Jewish passengers from flying as part of an agreement with a Saudi Arabian airline.

USA Today reported Thursday on rumors circulating Internet that as part of Saudi Arabian Airlines's agreement to join Delta's SkyTeam alliance, Delta would enforce a Saudi ban on passengers from Israel and non-Islamic religious artifacts.

Delta denied the accusation, saying it had a nondiscrimination policy, but Kirk still called for an investigation Friday.

"I am deeply concerned by the June 23, 2011, report in USA Today entitled 'U.S. Jews not able to fly on Delta flights to Saudi Arabia,'" Kirk wrote in a letter to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "If true, this policy appears to violate the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause while undermining the purpose of the Federal Aviation Administration – to promote the safety and expansion of U.S. civil aviation.