Brussels Airlines to Resume Tel Aviv Flights Despite Union Criticism

(BRUSSELS) Brussels Airlines will restart passenger service between Brussels and Tel Aviv (TLV) on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, moving ahead with a daylight-only schedule, no crew overnights, and crews drawn from a volunteer list, even as Belgian trade unions and some Brussels Airport ground handlers urge a suspension of Israel flights on moral and legal grounds. The airline, and parent Lufthansa Group, say fresh safety assessments support the move and that schedules will be adjusted if conditions change.

A Brussels Airlines spokesperson, Nico Cardone, said the first rotation is already sold out, pointing to strong pent‑up demand despite Belgium’s negative travel advice for Israel. The carrier is aligning with a wider Lufthansa Group return to Israel that began on August 1, 2025 for Lufthansa and Austrian, with 44 weekly group flights planned at the outset and further additions scheduled across September and October.

Safety measures and union pushback

Brussels Airlines says it has put extra risk controls in place for the restart. The plan includes:

• Daylight-only operations to and from TLV
• No crew overnights in Tel Aviv
• Volunteer-only crewing for initial flights

ACV Puls/CSC CNE, a major Belgian trade union in aviation, publicly criticized the decision, telling Belga News Agency the company is “not complying with legislation by sending staff to war zones.” The union also alleges the airline offered incentives to encourage volunteering:

• Guaranteed pay if a flight is canceled
• After three months on the volunteer list, an extra “joker day” to prioritize leave requests

Brussels Airlines has not publicly detailed the incentives but says there are enough volunteers to operate the start-up schedule and that the approach respects staff who do not want to take TLV duties.

At the airport, the joint union front representing Alyzia baggage handlers asked to be “released for moral reasons” from any Tel Aviv work, and called for a stop to Israel flights “until the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank ends.” The front said it would not accept El Al or other Israeli airlines as customers and asked management to allow consequence‑free opt‑outs for TLV tasks. If not respected, the unions warned they would consider action.

These statements, reported across Belgian and regional media, show widening pressure on operations beyond the cockpit and cabin.

Brussels Airport has a second licensed handler, Aviapartner, which could take assignments if Alyzia teams decline TLV work. Alyzia holds a long‑term license through October 27, 2025, and has handled Brussels Airlines’ home‑base ramp and baggage contract since 2021. The presence of Aviapartner could limit disruption for travelers, though work‑to‑rule or day‑of slowdowns can still ripple through peak-time schedules.

Wider European and transatlantic restart timeline

Current and planned restarts across carriers include:

• Lufthansa and Austrian: restarted Israel service on August 1, 2025
• SWISS: plans September 29 return
• Eurowings: set for October 26
• ITA Airways: targets September 1
• United (US): resumed Newark–Tel Aviv July 21–22 with plans for double daily
• Delta (US): aims for September 1 restart
• Wizz Air: relaunches August 8, targeting full capacity by September
• Ryanair: pushed to October 25
• easyJet: pushed to March 2026

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these staggered dates reflect both demand and carrier‑by‑carrier risk reviews.

Passenger and airport impacts

For travelers, the immediate effect is a narrow yet growing set of options to reach Israel from Belgium and nearby hubs. Brussels Airlines’ plan means flights will depart and return within daylight windows, and crews will not stay overnight in Israel. That limits exposure but also reduces operational slack.

Key passenger considerations:

• Monitor your booking closely for any timing or aircraft changes; the airline says it will adjust the schedule as needed.
• Arrive early at Brussels Airport in case ground handling is under pressure from union actions or work reallocations.
• Plan for possible delays if baggage or ramp teams rotate between handlers on the day.
• Expect high fares and limited seats initially; the opening flight is sold out, signaling strong demand amid limited capacity.

Belgium’s travel advice remained negative for Israel as of August 12 (Belga reporting). Official warnings do not ban commercial flights but guide risk decisions by airlines and workers. Travelers should also consult government advisories from their home country; for example, the U.S. Department of State maintains an Israel travel page at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/israel-travel-advisory.html. These notices can change quickly and may affect insurance coverage or employer approvals for business trips.

Crew and ground staff arrangements

For Brussels Airlines flight and cabin crews, the company is using a volunteer list for TLV duties. Per the union’s account, volunteers may receive guaranteed compensation if a flight cancels and a “joker day” after three months on the list. ACV Puls/CSC CNE pledges to support any worker who refuses Tel Aviv assignments for moral or safety reasons.

Practical advice for concerned staff:

1. Log refusals in writing with both HR and your union delegate.
2. Keep records if roster changes create last‑minute pressure to accept a TLV pairing.
3. Seek union support if management seeks to impose tasks perceived as unsafe.

For Alyzia’s ground staff, the joint union front is seeking opt‑outs without penalties. While Alyzia has not issued a company‑wide refusal, the presence of Aviapartner provides a buffer if an opt‑out wave or partial boycott emerges.

Operational responses Brussels Airport could use:

• Reassign flights to the other handler (Aviapartner)
• Call in extra teams from the alternate handler
• Re-time rotations to keep turns moving within daylight limits

Legal and safety framing

The legal framing is contested:

• ACV Puls/CSC CNE argues sending staff to a “war zone” breaches labor rules and employer duty of care.
• Brussels Airlines counters the operation is based on a fresh risk assessment, volunteer crews, and no overnights to reduce exposure.

European and Belgian workplace safety rules allow workers to refuse unsafe tasks, but the boundary of what counts as “unsafe” in a scheduled civil flight backed by an airline risk review is often tested case by case. The volunteer model reduces the chance of a direct legal clash over compulsory assignments, but disputes could still arise.

Short- and medium-term outlook

Short term:

• Expect Brussels Airlines to run a modest TLV program, closely watching security and the handler situation at Brussels Airport.
• If Alyzia teams broadly refuse Tel Aviv tasks, Aviapartner could step in, though baggage delivery and turn times may slow.
• Passengers should prepare for schedule tweaks and limited recovery time in daylight‑only operations.

Medium term:

• Additional Lufthansa Group capacity—SWISS (late September) and Eurowings (late October)—should add options and may ease fares.
• Continued union activism across Belgium and parts of Europe could still affect ground operations if political and security tensions persist.

Practical guidance for travelers and staff

Behind these schedule decisions are ordinary trips with heavy emotional weight: family visits, weddings, funerals, and urgent business. For those affected, reliable information matters most.

Recommendations:

• Check your airline notifications frequently.
• Speak with your employer about risk, approvals, and insurance.
• Keep an eye on official advisories from your government.
• If you are airline staff concerned about assignments, document refusals and involve your union.

With daylight‑only turns, no overnights, and volunteer crews, Brussels Airlines is trying to balance demand with caution, while trade unions press for stronger protections and broader ethical limits on where airport staff are asked to work.