Black business class passenger accuses white worker at Gatwick Airport of 'blatant racism'

The passenger said he was shouted at by a white worker to move out of the business class line to economy

The victim is a frequent flyer and regular business class passenger (istock)

A black business class flyer travelling from London Gatwick Airport has accused a white staff member of “blatant racism” after he was directed to move out of a business class queue into economy.

Seth Allen, 28, from Reading, was travelling from Gatwick to Marrakech on a British Airways flight on 12 December, when he was lambasted by the airport worker.

An entrepreneur and frequent flyer, Allen was waiting in the queue to board the aircraft when the staff member shouted over to him.

“He said, ‘This is the business line. General boarding is that way,’” Allen told The Sun.

“I was taken aback and told him, ‘Yes, and?’“

“The man’s tone was really insistent that I was in the wrong place. He then repeated himself again that general boarding was over there, as if I was in the wrong queue.”

Allen said that he remained in the queue, put his headphones back on and progressed through the gate.

As he did so, the man approached him again asking, “Oh, so you were with that guy, then?” referring to another passenger in front of him, who was white.

“He was inferring that I wasn’t there of my own right, and that I was a guest of someone else in the queue,” said Allen.

As the only black man in a queue of predominantly white passengers, Allen felt he was singled out because of his skin colour.

Writing on Twitter, Allen said: “Disgusted at the casual racism I encountered today @Gatwick_Airport. We talk about British values, yet today I experienced a painful reminder that racism is alive and well in Britain.”

Allen also confirmed that he was “dressed smartly, in a white blazer, blue jeans and smart shoes, and was carrying my laptop bag. It’s not like I was wearing scruffy clothes or a hoodie.”

He continued: “I feel like this is a clear example of racism, masked by a worker who was giving the impression that he was just doing his job.”

“The worker wasn’t doing this in a private manner – it was obvious. He shouted across a whole queue of people assuming that I was in the wrong place because of my skin colour.

“He felt that he was empowered enough to do this, which is a sad example of his mind-set.”

It’s currently unclear whether the staff member was employed by the airline or the airport, but investigations are underway to identify the man.

In a statement, British Airways told The Independent: “We take such matters extremely seriously. We are urgently investigating this with the airport.”

“We are in contact with our customer to reassure him that everything possible is being done to identify the individual.”

A Gatwick spokesman said: “We are appalled to hear this report of Mr Allen’s recent experience travelling through Gatwick Airport and apologise to him on behalf of the airport community.

“We are investigating the matter fully in conjunction with the airline that Mr Allen was travelling with.

“Gatwick does not tolerate such behaviour from anyone working at the airport and these attitudes do not reflect our values. Gatwick and the airline will ensure the necessary measures are taken, to address such behaviour with the member of staff involved, once identified.”