Grand Canyon Times

The focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by the airline industry is sparking debates and raising questions about whether passenger safety is taking a backseat to the political ideologies of executives.    

United Airlines is the latest air travel company whose policies are in question, magnified by a video from 2011 that has resurfaced, showing CEO Scott Kirby performing in drag at a U.S. Airways Halloween party. Kirby was president of U.S. Airways at the time. 

The video has garnered a response from the court of public opinion, tainting the image of United for some.

“Not only is Scott Kirby a bad drag queen and a DEI nut job, but he’s also getting sued for attempting to ‘purge religious orthodoxy’ at United after instituting one of the most draconian jab mandates in the nation. Those who didn’t comply were either fired or eventually placed on leave and stripped of their medical benefits,” Charlie Kirk said on X.

United Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from the Grand Canyon Times.

Kirby's video reentered the picture during a time when the airline industry is under scrutiny for its emphasis on DEI initiatives while several in-flight mishaps have occurred, leading some to say that the industry should refocus its efforts on increased safety measures.    

Matt Walsh has also commented on the trend in a column for the Daily Wire titled “The DEI Rot In The Airline Industry Is Way Worse Than You Think.” 

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282's emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, is one such mid-air event that has prompted a call for officials to reevaluate air travel safety, after the cause of a fuselage panel blowout was determined to be improper installation.  

Following the Alaska Airlines incident, United Airlines also reported “installation issues” with Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets, adding to Boeing's scrutiny. 

In the wake of the Alaska scare, Elon Musk tweeted a link to a Boeing filing that indicated a shift in executive compensation incentives from safety and quality to climate and DEI targets starting in 2022.

“Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening,” Musk said on X.

The targeted goals of Boeing’s 2023 Global Equity, Diversity and Inclusion report spells out the efforts, which are similar to those expressed by United Airlines. 

“92% of our interview candidate slates had at least one woman or person of color in the U.S. or one woman in countries outside the U.S., and we dramatically decreased the share of direct placements compared to prior years. We will continue tying our success in interviewing diverse candidate slates to incentive payouts in 2023,” the report reads.

Musk doubled down on his stance, asserting that "people will die due to DEI.” 

The FAA's attempt to diversify the industry began under the Obama administration, including changes to hiring processes, is linked to the current crisis, with concerns raised about the impact on safety, including an increase in runway incursions and near-misses. 

Concerns have been raised about the impact of DEI initiatives on air traffic control safety, following an 83% rise in runway incursions reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to Unherd.

Air traffic controllers face understaffing and overwork issues, with 77% of ATC centers being understaffed as of June.

Earlier this month, America First Legal (AFL) filed complaints with the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs alleging that United Airlines, along with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have breached their contractual obligations under federal contracting law by engaging in illegal racial and sex discrimination. AFL cited United’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report for its "unlawful benchmarks, classifications, and quotas."

The complaints cite Executive Order 11246, which requires federal contracts to include an Equal Opportunity Clause prohibiting discrimination based on various factors.

"Despite receiving over $150 million in federal government contracts since 2008, United Airlines is knowingly, intentionally, and systematically violating its equal opportunity covenants and assurances. In an interview on June 20, 2021, United CEO Scott Kirby described diversity quotas in United’s training academy, the Aviate Academy. Kirby said that to increase diversity among pilots, “[w]e have committed that 50% of the classes will be women or people of color.

"He further described that 'for every job, when we do an interview, we require women or people of color to be involved in the interview process.' Kirby confirmed that, at the time of the interview, 'only' 19% of United pilots were women and people of color.  Increasing diversity among pilots accordingly entails refusing to consider or hire qualified nonminority pilots," said Gene Hamilton, America First Legal Vice President and General Counsel, in a press release.  

AFL argues the airlines openly acknowledge and promote discriminatory practices in their recruitment, hiring and promotion processes.

The complaints follow previous federal civil rights complaints filed by AFL against these airlines for similar allegations.

AFL contends that these corporations should face consequences, including suspension or termination of federal contracts, for violating contractual terms and prioritizing race and sex over skill and merit in hiring practices.

“The American people should not have money taken out of their paychecks to facilitate facially discriminatory actions by federal contractors,” said Hamilton. 

“But that’s precisely what happens when federal contractors embrace policies that–as they openly admit on their websites and in other public materials–discriminate against Americans based on immutable characteristics. All discrimination is wrong, and we expect the federal government to enforce federal law as Congress directed."

Since 2021, United Airlines has been pursuing DEI initiatives when selecting pilots for its United Aviate Academy.

United Airlines promoted the fact that the first class at its Aviate Academy, which began pilot training in 2021, was made up of 80% women or minority candidates.

"We have an opportunity to address diversity and three, we have an opportunity to train them and immerse them in the customer service and safety culture that we want them to have for the next 40 years,” Kirby told Airline Geeks.

At the time when its first class was installed, United Airlines already had the most diverse pilot force in the country with 20% women or minorities.