The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into allegations that New York and Texas airports discriminated against Chick-fil-A.
Previously, the city-owned airport operators across Buffalo, New York and San Antonio, Texas, barred the fast-food chain over the owner’s stance on LGBTI issues.
The company has been lampooned in the past for its and groups.
The FAA is the main governmental body that regulates aspects of civil aviation.
The FAA confirmed that it’s investigating the San Antonio International Airport and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport over why operators banned the fast-food chain from taking shop.
In a statement shared with yesterday (28 May), the FAA confirmed it received complaints that airport operators were discriminating against private companies.
‘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 agency stated.
‘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.’
Gay Star News contacted Chick-fil-A for comment.
San Antonio’s city council voted in March to exclude the Atlanta-based company from its concession contract for the airport. Arguing that the move would further inclusion.
Meanwhile, in Buffalo, the company that operates the airport’s restaurants, Delaware North, that it had scrapped plans to open a Chick-fil-A in the airport.
Chick-fil-A has long drawn backlash over the chain’s record on LGBTI issues. Particularly drawing headlines for its charitable wing’s donations to organizations that are anti-LGBTI.
It all began in 2012.
Equality Matters first reported the company donated in 2010. Then the COO Dan Cathy said the company is and operates on ‘biblical principles’.
Critics soon came pouring in, including , , and .
Same-sex couples in front of establishments as a form of protest.
Two schools in North Carolina also banned the fast-food restaurant: and .
