Air France Restricts Pakistani Pilots on Israel Flights as More Airlines Follow Suit
Air France and United Airlines have introduced crew restrictions for flights to and from Israel under rules affecting nationals of countries without diplomatic ties with Israel. Smartwings has also confirmed compliance, raising questions about the impact on international aviation.
Air France has confirmed that it is complying with Israeli restrictions on airline crew members from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel. The rules reportedly affect Pakistani pilots and cabin crew, along with nationals of several other countries.
The move follows an attempted attack aboard a FlyDubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Israeli authorities have since tightened enforcement of existing crew restrictions, according to media reports.
United Airlines has reportedly incorporated nationality-based requirements into its crew-planning procedures. Smartwings, a Czech airline, has also confirmed compliance, although it said its operations had not been affected so far.
An internal United Airlines memo reportedly lists 29 countries whose nationals may be restricted from operating flights to and from Tel Aviv. These include Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The wider Israeli restrictions have been reported to cover 31 countries.
The rules reportedly apply to people holding the nationality of a listed country, including some dual nationals. An Ethiopian Airlines flight was also reportedly ordered to return to Addis Ababa after Israeli authorities identified an Indonesian pilot. The pilot was replaced before the aircraft continued to Tel Aviv.
Air France said it must follow the entry regulations imposed by the countries it serves. However, the restrictions have raised concerns about nationality-based discrimination and potential legal challenges.
Whether more airlines will adopt similar procedures remains uncertain. Their response will depend on how Israeli authorities enforce the rules and how carriers address operational, employment and legal requirements.
