World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
Air France says it will follow Israel’s crew nationality restrictions
Air France says it will follow new Israeli restrictions on the nationalities of crew flying to or over Israel.
The rules reportedly bar nationals of 31 Muslim-majority countries from Israel’s airspace and restrict crew who hold the nationality or dual nationality of countries without diplomatic ties to Israel.
Israel’s Transport Ministry reportedly sent the directive to foreign airlines on October 1, a day after an Omani copilot allegedly tried to hijack a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The copilot is accused of attacking the Indian pilot, who has been recovering in hospital.
An anti-discrimination lawyer says the policy may be discriminatory because it treats people from those countries as potential security threats.
Air France says airlines must follow the entry rules of countries they serve, and an internal memo reportedly warned staff of possible sanctions for non-compliance.
Other airlines may also have to change crew assignments, but the information available does not establish how many have done so.
Air France says it is complying with Israeli restrictions on crew members’ nationality for flights to and over Israel.
The restrictions bar pilots and cabin crew with the nationality or dual nationality of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israeli media reported that the list covers 31 Muslim-majority countries.
A French anti-discrimination lawyer said the measure treats nationals of those countries as potential security threats and could conflict with French employment law.
Israel’s transport ministry reportedly issued the directive to foreign airlines on October 1, a day after an alleged attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight.
- Who
- Air France and its pilots and cabin crew are affected. The Israeli directive applies to foreign airlines.
- What
- Air France says it is following Israeli restrictions on crew nationality for flights to and over Israel.
- When
- The Israeli directive was reportedly sent to foreign airlines on October 1. Air France did not state when it began complying.
- Where
- Flights into and over Israel, including flights to Tel Aviv.
- Why
- The directive bars crew members with the nationality or dual nationality of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli authorities issued it after an alleged attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight.
Air France and Israeli authorities
Clara Gandin, anti-discrimination lawyer
Compliance with the directive
Air France and Israeli authorities
Air France says airlines must comply with entry regulations set by the authorities of countries they serve.
Clara Gandin, anti-discrimination lawyer
Gandin says complying with the measure could conflict with French employment law.
Basis of the restriction
Air France and Israeli authorities
The directive bars crew members with the nationality or dual nationality of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel.
Clara Gandin, anti-discrimination lawyer
Gandin says treating every national of the listed countries as a potential security threat amounts to discriminatory bias.
An Omani copilot allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety reportedly told foreign airlines that crew members with certain nationalities could not operate flights into Israeli airspace.
- Countries on reported list
- 31 Muslim-majority countries
- Examples on list
- Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Niger
- Directive date
- October 1
- Flight involved in alleged incident
- Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Air France statement
- It said airlines must comply with the entry regulations of countries they serve
What people are saying
Like all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry regulations established by the authorities of the countries it serves, both for its customers and employees.
The measure rests on a collective presumption which amounts to a discriminatory bias: Every national of these 31 countries, most of them Arab or Muslim-majority, is treated as a potential security threat.
Sources
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