Brussels Airlines crew can refuse Israel flights after dispute with union

Pilots and cabin crew at Brussels Airlines can still refuse to operate flights to and from Tel Aviv if they feel psychologically unfit to fly, the airline said Thursday following talks with trade unions.

The statement came after a meeting between Brussels Airlines management and unions over concerns about the safety of flights to Tel Aviv, according to Belga news agency.

Brussels Airlines resumed flights between Brussels and Tel Aviv several weeks ago.

The trade union ACV Puls criticized the airline's decision to schedule the flights as part of normal operations rather than relying on volunteers.

The union said it disagrees with the assessment that the security situation in Tel Aviv is safe enough for flights to resume under normal conditions, noting that the Belgian government continues to advise against non-essential travel to Israel.

ACV Puls also filed a strike notice Tuesday, seeking to allow employees to refuse assignments to Tel Aviv, citing safety concerns.

Brussels Airlines spokesperson Nico Cardone confirmed that flights to Tel Aviv are now being scheduled normally but stressed that aviation procedures allow employees to decline a flight if they do not feel psychologically fit to operate it.