Lufthansa Cancels Overnight Stays for Flight Crews in Israel

Lufthansa Group has announced temporary changes to its flight operations involving Israel, effective until December. Due to crew members' refusal to stay overnight in Israel, flight crews will no longer be lodging in Tel Aviv. Consequently, some flights will make technical stops in Larnaca, Cyprus, or Athens, Greece. Passengers whose flights are affected will be directly notified by the company. The airline did not specify the exact reasons for the crew's refusal.

This development follows new security regulations for flights to Israel. Last week, it was mandated that airlines must report their flight crew details 48 hours before departure. These updated guidelines aim to enhance aviation security by tightening reporting rules for crew members. Under the revised instructions, airlines will submit crew information, including any changes, during check-in and no later than two hours before takeoff, with a final, complete crew list provided at the actual departure time. Aviation authorities stated that these measures will provide security bodies with more preparation time than is customary globally, thereby improving the security response.