Air France said it will comply with new Israeli restrictions that limit which pilots and cabin crew can fly to and over Israel based on nationality. The airline also told staff that the new rules apply to flights to Tel Aviv, after Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety issued the October 1 directive.
The reported restrictions cover 31 Muslim-majority countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Niger. Air France told Al Jazeera: "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".
October 1 directive
According to N12, the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety told foreign airlines on October 1 that pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality or dual nationality of countries that lack diplomatic relations with Israel. The directive followed a September 30 alleged hijacking attempt, when an Omani copilot allegedly tried to seize a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and crash it into Ben Gurion airport.
Air France said to Al Jazeera: "The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv". In a separate internal memo seen by Mediapart, Air France warned pilots and cabin crew that failure to comply could expose Air France and the employee to potential sanctions.
Clara Gandin
Paris-based anti-discrimination lawyer Clara Gandin said the measure could put airlines that comply with Israel at odds with French employment law. She said: "The measure rests on a collective presumption which amounts to a discriminatory bias: E". Her objection goes to how airline staffing is assigned before a flight even leaves the ground, with nationality used as the filter rather than individual clearance for each crew member.
Al Jazeera said the directive could affect dozens of airlines that fly to, from or over Israel. Smartwings said in September 2026 that it received the directive from the Israeli authorities, would comply, and that it had no impact at present on operations, crew management procedures, or the deployment of crew members on flights to and from Israel.
For Air France passengers and crew, the immediate change is a staffing rule, not a route change: the airline has said it will follow the Israeli restrictions and has already informed affected staff. What remains open is how many Air France flights and crew assignments will be adjusted under the nationality filter.
