Two flight attendants wearing the pins had complied with airlineâs dress code but a social media post sparked uproar.
Delta Air Lines has changed its employee uniform policy following a controversy, involving two flight attendants who wore Palestinian flag pins, triggered by a social media post and the United States carrierâs âunacceptableâ response to it.
The new dress code, which took effect on Monday, prohibits employees from wearing pins representing any country besides that of the US.
A passenger posted a photograph last week of two flight attendants â without their consent â wearing Palestine flag pins and referred to them as âHamas badgesâ. The post went viral on X and prompted a wave of criticism towards the airline.
Shortly after the images were published, Deltaâs official account on X responded: âNothing to worry, this is being investigated already.â
It then added: âI hear you as Iâd be terrified as well.â
The airline subsequently deleted that post and issued an apology for what it described as a âhurtful postâ saying, âOn Wednesday, we removed a reply that was not in line with our values.â
Deltaâs Association of Flight Attendants, in a letter to the companyâs chief executive Ed Bastian on July 11, said the flight attendants were subjected to âharassment after pictures taken without their consent were circulated on social media with false, inflammatory, and discriminatory allegationsâ.
The union said Deltaâs social media responses âshowed contempt for current employees, and the subsequent lack of public response and concern for the safety of all crew members is unacceptableâ, as it called for a public apology from management.
âIt is deeply troubling to publicly witness Delta seemingly affirm bigoted and inflammatory comments,â the union wrote.
âTargeting any individuals on the basis of their nationality violates anti-discrimination laws, is antithetical to Deltaâs stated commitment to inclusivity and respect, and encourages a hostile work environment.â
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the countryâs largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, called Deltaâs response the latest example of âanti-Palestinian racismâ.
Before the uproar, the two flight attendants wearing the Palestine flag pins aligned with Deltaâs dress code policy, which gave employees more flexibility with uniform accessories.
Deltaâs policy shift reflects the ongoing tensions surrounding Israelâs war on Hamas, which has triggered protests across the US and on university campuses.
âWe are proud of our diverse base of employees and customers and the foundation of our brand,â the Atlanta-based airline said in a statement.
âWe are taking this step to help ensure a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for all,â it added, saying the âemployee responsible no longer supports Deltaâs social channelsâ.
Since the war began on October 7, more than 38,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israelâs relentless bombardment of the enclave, according to Gazaâs Ministry of Health.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIRâs national deputy executive director, told The Washington Post newspaper that the group welcomed Deltaâs apology and the âhope is that this incident will begin to slowly, slowly move the needle in a different directionâ.