Israel orders airlines, including Air France, to bar crew holding dual nationality of 31 countries
Israel's Transport Ministry ordered foreign airlines on October 1 to bar pilots and cabin crew holding the nationality or dual nationality of 31 countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, including Tunisia, Algeria, Iran and Pakistan, according to Israeli media and French outlet Mediapart. Air France confirmed it is complying; Paris-based anti-discrimination lawyer Clara Gandin told Al Jazeera the measure amounts to direct discrimination under French labour law and could expose the airline to damages claims, while air-law professor Vincent Correia said states can restrict foreign crews' nationality under the Chicago Convention but warned the move could worsen pilot shortages. The directive came a day after an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot to hijack a Flydubai flight on September 30, according to Israeli and Emirati authorities.