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🇧🇪 Belgium /Conflict & Security

Brussels Airlines crews can still refuse flights to Tel Aviv

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Brussels Airlines staff can still refuse Tel Aviv flights if they feel psychologically unable to operate them.
  • The agreement followed union objections to ending a volunteer-based system for flights to the Israeli city.
  • ACV Puls welcomed the guarantees but continued to oppose commercial flights to Tel Aviv under current conditions.

Pilots and cabin crew at Brussels Airlines will not be forced to fly to or from Tel Aviv, even though the airline has returned those routes to its normal scheduling system.

We are not in agreement with commercial flights being operated to a country where a genocide is taking place and where terrible human rights violations are occurring.

· ACV PulsThe union explained its ethical objection to scheduled commercial flights to Tel Aviv.

The decision followed talks between management and unions after Christian union ACV Puls objected to the end of a volunteer-based arrangement. Brussels Airlines had resumed flights between Brussels and Tel Aviv several weeks earlier, but initially relied on staff who volunteered for the route.

The airline then planned to assign the flights through its ordinary roster. ACV Puls challenged the assessment that conditions in Tel Aviv were safe enough for a normal return to service and also raised what it called the ethical issue of operating commercial flights to a country where “a genocide is taking place” and “terrible human rights violations” are occurring. The union had filed a strike notice for the flights.

Safety always has the highest priority.

· Brussels AirlinesThe airline defended its approach to operating Tel Aviv flights.

Brussels Airlines spokesman Nico Cardone said employees could use aviation procedures allowing them to declare themselves “unfit to fly” if they did not feel psychologically well enough to operate a flight. He said the airline had stressed that staff could use the procedure without fear of repercussions. The airline has also said safety remains its highest priority and that Lufthansa Group airlines have operated Tel Aviv flights throughout the summer without problems.

We have emphasized that our colleagues can use that procedure as always without fear of repercussions.

· Nico CardoneThe airline spokesman described the protection for staff who declare themselves unfit to fly.

ACV Puls welcomed the clarification and said the guarantees protected employees’ physical and mental safety. The union nevertheless remained critical of the government, arguing that commercial flights to Tel Aviv should not operate under the current circumstances.

These guarantees are important for staff and prove once again that you are stronger together.

· Jolinde DefieuwThe ACV Puls representative welcomed the agreement after talks with management.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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