FAA investigating two airports where Chick-fil-A restaurants were excluded

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating religious discrimination claims against two airports because plans for Chick-fil-A restaurants were scrapped after complaints about the fast food chain's stance on LGBTQ issues.

"The Department of Transportation has received complaints alleging discrimination by two airport operators against a private company due to the expression of the owner's religious beliefs," an FAA statement said.

"FAA's Office of Civil Rights has notified the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) that it has opened investigations into these complaints. The FAA notes that Federal requirements prohibit airport operators from excluding persons on the basis of religious creed from participating in airport activities that receive or benefit from FAA grant funding."

CNN has reached out to officials at both airports for comment.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/faa-investigating-two-airports-where-chick-fil-a-restaurants-were-excluded/ar-AABUX0c?li=BBnb7Kz

I thought the FAA's job was air safety not right wing religious agenda.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Oh, FFS!

They crow about the "free market" and that's why Shit-fil-A is losing customers.

[spanone]

2. 'Less government' my ass.

[struggle4progress]

3. San Antonio's vote to bar Chick-fil-A

Dylan McGuinness
Updated: May 24, 2019 8:20 p.m.

... Nirenberg said his vote had nothing to do with religion. He has argued that it was about the restaurant’s policy of closing on Sundays, which he said would inconvenience travelers.

“My decision was based on the best interests of passengers, especially the 1.5 million who pass through our airport on Sundays,” Nirenberg said. “They should have a full range of options, and preferably local ones. Religion had nothing to do with decisions on airport retail vendors. The only one to raise the issue of religion has been Councilman Brockhouse” ...

Councilman Roberto Treviño, who proposed excluding Chick-fil-A, said he couldn’t support the company’s “legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior” ...

“This motion is not about someone’s religious beliefs but rather the history of discrimination toward our LGBTQ community,” he said. “This is not an attack on religion. This is certainly not an attack on Christianity. This is a stand for equality” ...

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/FAA-opens-probe-into-controversial-decision-to-13895302.php

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Isn't their closure on Sundays the reason for rejection?

People travel every day of the week, and a business that won't open on Sunday is just taking up retail space.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. For an airport to get funding from the FAA

the airport manager can’t restrict businesses from operating at that airport. Usually the problem comes up when the airport manager is a buddy of the guy who runs the only FBO (seller of fuel and aircraft services) and won’t allow a competitor to open a business. But the rule applies to other businesses as well.

[struggle4progress]

6. FAA investigating if Buffalo Niagara International discriminated

Posted: May 25, 2019 04:42 PM EDT
Updated: May 25, 2019 06:56 PM EDT

... Last March, it was announced that a Chick-Fil-A would be coming <to> Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Delaware North, who operates the airports restaurants, announced days later that the chain would not come after heavy backlash ...

A spokesperson for Buffalo Niagara International sent this statement :

"I can’t provide any information or confirmation regarding the investigation. I can reiterate that the decision not to move forward with Chick fil A came from Delaware North, not the NFTA" ...

https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/faa-investigating-if-buffalo-niagara-international-discriminated-against-chick-fil-a/2026837622

[MadLinguist]

7. But airport management can't exercize religious freedom in rejecting companies

that fail to adhere to "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself"?
Why should only the bigots be given religious freedom protections.
Jesus Wept, y'all.

[dlk]

8. Practicing Religion and Commerce Are Two Separate Things

Unless, of course, commerce is your religion.

[StarfishSaver]

9. DOT's and FAA's responsibilities include ensuring non-discrimination in the operation of programs

and activities they fund, so it's appropriate and common for them to investigate complaints of discrimination brought to them.

The allegation is that the airports discriminated against Chick-Fil-A based on their religious beliefs in violation of statutes and rules. According to news reports, the San Antonio and Buffalo city councils excluded Chick-Fil-A from the list of airport vendors because of a history of anti-LGBTQ activity, including donations to anti-gay rights organizations. The question for DOT will be whether Chick-Fil-A's actions constitute discrimination within the legal definition and, if so, whether that is sufficient to support exclusion from participation or whether the donations are a protected act of religious expression.

This may be a difficult move for the cities to defend since donations to anti-LBGTQ organizations, while offensive to many of us, isn't the same thing as, for example, a policy of refusing to hire gay or trans persons or to serve minority customers. If there's no evidence of discrimination in the conduct of their business and customer service but the exclusion was based on where the owners choose to spend their profit dollars, they may be able to prevail.

That said, while most of DOT's political leadership aren't known to be particularly sensitive to minority rights (to put it mildly) the FAA's Office of Civil Rights is run by some outstanding career staff who really know their stuff and whom I trust to conduct a fair investigation. The final decision will be made by DOT's political leadership BUT, these investigations can take a long time (many months to years) and if the department finds Chick-Fil-A was discriminated against, there's another long process before DOT can actually take any adverse action. So it's possible the political leadership will have changed well before this is resolved.

[hatrack]

10. Good thing there aren't any ongoing problems with a major airplane manufacturer, huh?

[StarfishSaver]

11. The FAA's and DOT's Offices of Civil Rights are SUPPOSED to investigate complaints. Don't knock them

They operate in a completely different area than the safety division, so this investigation doesn't detract from or overlap with their safety oversight.

It was DOT's Office of Civil Rights that blocked Alabama's attempt to make it harder for black residents to get driver's licenses and shut down projects that could have destroyed black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Investigating civil rights complaints is their job.