ATLANTA– Delta Air Lines is changing its uniform policy for its employees after a turbulent period on social media, sparked by a passenger’s outrage over a photo of two flight attendants wearing Palestinian badges.
The outcry over the July 10 post, which described the Palestinian pins as “Hamas badges,” led Delta to ban its employees from wearing pins representing any country or nationality other than the U.S. The rule goes into effect Monday.
“We are proud of our diverse workforce and customer base and the foundation of our brand, which is connecting the world and providing a first-class experience,” the Atlanta-based airline said in a statement. “We are taking this step to help ensure a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for all.”
Delta’s policy change reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the War between Israel and Hamas, which led to high-profile protests that shook university campuses, among other places.
Both employees caught protesting the Palestinian pins in the post were adhering to Delta’s previous policy, which gave employees more flexibility when it came to accessorizing their uniforms.
Before Delta announced its new policy, one of its employees escalated the flag pin issue by posting a comment claiming that flight attendants wearing the Palestinian pins were breaking company policy and sympathizing with passengers who might be “terrified” of them. That post has since been deleted, but was captured in a screenshot shared by the American Muslim rights group CAIR National.
Delta said the employee responsible for that post had been removed from handling social media communications in a message where apologies were also offered.
