- Israel notified foreign airlines on October 1, 2026, of nationality restrictions covering pilots and cabin crew, including dual nationals.
- Air France listed 31 restricted countries; a reported United Airlines memo named 29.
- Noncompliance could threaten airspace authorization, while nationality-based crew limits may also expose airlines to discrimination claims.
Air France has told affected crew about Israel’s new nationality rules, while United Airlines has reportedly changed assignments for Tel Aviv flights without confirming it adopted the directive. The rule covers pilots and cabin crew entering Israeli airspace. Dual nationals are included.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety notified foreign airlines of the restriction on October 1, 2026. Crew members cannot hold the nationality, including a second nationality, of a country that lacks diplomatic relations with Israel.
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The two carriers’ reported lists differ. Air France’s notice covers 31 countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Niger. A United scheduling memo reportedly names 29 countries.
The measure chiefly extends scrutiny to employees with another nationality. Crew who held only the nationality of a country without diplomatic relations with Israel were generally already barred from operating there.
Air France said it had informed affected staff and described its compliance obligations:
“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.”
“The staff concerned have been informed of the new regulations implemented by the Israeli authorities for flights to Tel Aviv.”
United’s reported internal memo bars affected employees from operating or traveling aboard flights to and from Tel Aviv. The airline responded that it “don’t[s] have anything to share.” It did not confirm whether it had received or implemented Israel’s directive.
The directive carries airspace penalties and employment-law risks
Airlines that fail to comply reportedly risk immediate suspension or revocation of authorization to enter Israeli airspace. The restriction could therefore affect their permission to fly into the country.
The nationality-based limits also raise employment-law questions. Experts warned that applying such restrictions to airline employees could expose carriers to discrimination litigation, particularly under French law. The rule puts the carriers’ obligations to follow destination-country entry rules alongside those legal concerns.
The reported policy has not changed every airline’s operations. Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimira Dufkova said it had not affected the carrier’s operations, crew-management procedures or crew deployment.
