"Refusing to fly to Tel Aviv": Brussels Airlines employees protest against mandatory Israel flights
A shortage of staff led Brussels Airlines management to mandate employees to fly to Israel, sparking a confrontation. In response, the Belgian labor union announced a targeted strike on the Tel Aviv route, accusing the company of violating agreements and endangering crews contrary to official travel warnings.
The Belgian labor union ACV Puls has filed an official strike notice against Brussels Airlines following the company's decision to mandate flight crew members to fly the route to Tel Aviv. The union argues that this forced assignment violates previous agreements, which stipulated that operations to Israel should be based on volunteers only, and exposes crews to severe physical and ethical risks. The strike notice took effect on the morning of September 1, paving the way for targeted organizational measures if the airline does not retract its decision. The union maintains that forcing employees to fly under current circumstances contradicts the employer's duty to protect staff safety and health. Meanwhile, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to advise citizens against all non-essential travel to Israel and the Jerusalem area due to the sensitive security situation.
"There are heavy concerns among the crew, both regarding physical safety and the potential impact of these flights," says Yolinda Depue, a representative of the ACV Puls union. However, Brussels Airlines has refused to allow employees to opt out of these assignments. "This is especially serious in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza."
Depue emphasizes that a commercial airline cannot ignore state-issued safety guidelines. "If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends avoiding non-essential travel, Brussels Airlines cannot pretend that Tel Aviv is a normal destination," she adds.
Friction between management and employees on the Tel Aviv route has been escalating since 2025. Employee representatives noted that when flights were previously operated, Brussels Airlines offered financial grants and bonuses to attract volunteers. Now that a sufficient number of volunteers is unavailable, the company has shifted to a mandatory assignment format.
"A shortage of volunteers does not give a free hand to force employees," the union stated, demanding that crew members with safety or conscientious reservations retain the right to refuse flights without financial or disciplinary consequences. The union has also called on the Belgian government to establish a clear position regarding commercial flights to conflict zones. Any potential disruptions will be limited solely to round-trip flights to Tel Aviv. "ACV Puls will protect any employee who does not want to fly to a war zone," Depue concluded.
Brussels Airlines responded by emphasizing that safety procedures are fully maintained. "Brussels Airlines resumed operations to Tel Aviv this summer. During the first weeks, these flights were operated by volunteers. Now that flights have been successfully resumed, we can return to the normal procedure for compiling flight schedules," the airline stated. "Together with the rest of the Lufthansa Group, we continue to monitor the situation on the ground closely and are ready to adjust procedures at any time if required."
Despite these assurances, the union remains skeptical. ACV Puls recalled that during a previous period of operations, a missile landed at Ben Gurion Airport shortly before a scheduled departure, citing this as evidence of the real danger facing flight crews.
