Brussels Airlines Staff Can Refuse Flights to Tel Aviv Amid Strike Threats

Brussels Airlines has reached an agreement with its pilots and flight attendants allowing them to refuse flights to Tel Aviv without facing disciplinary action, utilizing a "unfit to fly" protocol. This resolution comes after union threats of a strike and protests regarding the airline's decision to resume flights to Israel in August, which had been suspended.

The Flemish Christian union ACV Puls had filed a strike notice, criticizing the airline's assessment of the security situation in Israel and pointing to Belgian government advisories against non-essential travel to the country. The union argued that the flights should not resume under current conditions.

Brussels Airlines spokesperson Nico Cardoen clarified that the company respects existing aviation industry procedures that permit crew members to withdraw from a flight if they feel psychologically unable to perform their duties. He emphasized that this option is available to staff without fear of repercussions, and that the flights themselves would continue as scheduled.

While the union expressed satisfaction with the clarification regarding employee safety and mental well-being, they remain critical of the Belgian authorities' stance on commercial flights to Israel. ACV Puls stated that, in their view, no commercial flights to Tel Aviv should be operating under the current circumstances and called for a complete halt to the route.

Despite the union's concerns, Brussels Airlines confirmed that flights between Brussels and Tel Aviv continued to operate as scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.