Air France Union Demands Halt to Flights to Israel Over New Restrictions

A dispute has erupted in France after the Air France labor union Force Ouvrière called for the airline to suspend flights to Israel. The union's demand is a response to new Israeli regulations that restrict foreign flight crew members from entering the country. According to the union, Israel's Ministry of Transport has ordered that flight crews holding citizenship from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, or those with dual citizenship, will not be permitted entry into Israeli airspace. The union argues that these restrictions violate the principle of equality for all citizens and French law, stating that Israel should not dictate who can work on French aircraft. Force Ouvrière proposed that if Israel does not require certain crew members, Air France should refuse to provide its planes for flights to the country. The union's statement emphasized that "the fundamental principle of our country, and therefore of our company, is that all citizens are equal." Air France has reportedly issued internal instructions to its employees regarding the new rules, a move that has also drawn criticism from the union. The French publication Mediapart first reported on the existence of these instructions. The new Israeli measures were reportedly implemented following a serious incident on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The co-pilot, an Omani citizen, allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, with investigators suggesting an intent to replicate the September 11th attacks by crashing the plane into Ben Gurion Airport's terminal. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker, and two other pilots diverted the flight to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai has reportedly complied with Israel's demands following the incident, but the French union's reaction highlights ongoing tensions.