Air France Follows Israeli Crew Restrictions on Israel Flights

Air France is complying with Israeli restrictions preventing pilots and cabin crew from certain countries from operating flights to Israel, after Israel introduced nationality-based aviation rules affecting dozens of airlines and raising legal questions in France.

The Israeli Transport Ministry instructed foreign airlines that crew entering Israeli airspace must not hold nationality or dual nationality from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, according to reports by N12 and other outlets.

The directive covers 31 countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Niger, according to Al Jazeera. It followed a September 30 incident involving an Omani co-pilot accused by authorities of attempting to seize control of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

Air France told Al Jazeera it must follow entry requirements imposed by countries where it operates.

"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," said Air France.

The airline informed affected staff about the Israeli requirements and warned employees about compliance obligations, according to a memo reviewed by Mediapart. The directive has also affected discussions around dual-nationality crew assignments.

"The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv," said Air France.

Other airlines have also addressed the restrictions. Smartwings confirmed receiving the directive but said it had not affected operations at that time.

"We received the directive from the Israeli authorities in September 2026. We have carefully reviewed the directive and continue to monitor and comply with all applicable requirements issued by the relevant authorities. At present, the directive does not have any impact on our operations, crew management procedures, or the deployment of crew members on flights to and from Israel," said Vladimira Dufkova, a Smartwings spokeswoman.

United Airlines responded to questions about the directive without confirming whether it had changed crew assignments.

"We don't have anything to share," said United Airlines.

French lawyer Clara Gandin said the policy could conflict with French anti-discrimination rules because it links employment decisions to nationality.

"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," said Clara Gandin.

Gandin cited Article L1132-1 of the French Labour Code, which prohibits discrimination based on actual or perceived nationality in employment matters.

"Article L1132-1 of the French Labour Code prohibits any discriminatory measure based on a person's actual or perceived nationality, in particular regarding assignment, pay and discipline," said Clara Gandin.

She argued that removing employees from Israel-bound flights because of nationality could constitute direct discrimination even if pay is unchanged.

"Removing employees from certain flights because they hold Algerian, Tunisian, Iranian or another of Israel's listed nationalities is therefore direct discrimination – even without loss of pay," said Clara Gandin.

Gandin said aviation safety concerns can be assessed through individual security procedures rather than nationality-based restrictions.

"Evidently, nationality is not a requirement for flying an aircraft. Air France also lets the same pilots and crew operate every other route, which demonstrates it does not regard them as a safety risk," said Clara Gandin.

She also argued that commercial interests do not provide legal justification for employment discrimination.

"Air France's aim is commercial: keeping access to the Israeli market. But economic considerations cannot justify discrimination in the eyes of the law," said Clara Gandin.

The lawyer referenced European legal principles on workplace discrimination and occupational requirements.

"A third party's wishes cannot turn a protected characteristic into an occupational requirement," said Clara Gandin.

Gandin said a security response should rely on individual assessments rather than nationality alone.

"A proportionate response to a security concern relies on individual assessment, which French aviation security vetting already provides. It cannot rest on nationality alone," said Clara Gandin.

Israel's restrictions also involve questions of state authority over airspace. Analysts cited the 1944 Chicago Convention, which recognizes state sovereignty over territorial airspace and rules governing admission of passengers and crew.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of foreign civil aviation security after the Flydubai incident.

"Has instructed the head of the National Security Council, Shmuel Ben Ezra, to appoint an examiner to conduct a thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel," said Benjamin Netanyahu's office.