Air France has confirmed that it is complying with new Israeli restrictions that restrict flight crew members of certain nationalities from operating flights to Israel.
The rules reportedly affect citizens of 31 countries, most of them Muslim-majority nations, which include Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia and Niger
The move comes days after an alleged hijacking attempt aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
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According to Emirati and Israeli authorities, an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, Air France noted: "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 airline added that, "The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv."
Israel's Restrictions On Foreign Airline Crew
According to Israeli broadcaster N12, Israel's Ministry of Transport and Road Safety informed foreign airlines on October 1 that pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality, including dual nationality, of countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
The restrictions could affect airlines operating flights to, from or over Israel.
Other Airlines Also Respond To Israeli Directive
Air France is not the only airline to have acknowledged the restrictions. Czech carrier Smartwings has also confirmed receiving the directive and said it would comply with the requirements.
"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," Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimira Dufkova told Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, United Airlines has not confirmed whether it has received the directive or changed its crew assignments. The airline told Al Jazeera that it had nothing to share.
Restrictions Raise Concerns Over Discrimination
The policy has raised concerns about possible discrimination against airline employees based on nationality and the legal implications for carriers operating under their home countries' employment laws.
According to French investigative publication Mediapart, Air France had considered asking crew members to voluntarily disclose whether they fell under the restrictions. The Alter union, which represents flight deck crew, reportedly opposed the proposal, arguing that it would amount to "discrimination based on nationality".
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The reported restrictions could create challenges for international airlines as they seek to comply with Israeli entry requirements while meeting their legal obligations towards employees.
The wider impact on airline operations remains unclear, with questions over how carriers will manage crew assignments and verify nationalities under the new rules.
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