Air France has confirmed that it is complying with new Israeli restrictions barring airline crew members holding certain nationalities from operating flights to Israel. The policy affects citizens of countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, including Pakistan and several other Muslim-majority nations.

The restrictions reportedly cover pilots and cabin crew who hold the nationality, including dual nationality, of any country on Israel’s list. Reports indicate that the list includes 31 countries, among them Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia and Oman.

“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 airline told Al Jazeera. The company also said affected staff had been informed of the new requirements for flights to Tel Aviv.

The measures follow a September 30 incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before diverting to Saudi Arabia. Israeli authorities subsequently announced plans to strengthen security checks on pilots flying into the country.

According to reports by French investigative publication Mediapart and other media outlets, Israel’s Transport Ministry notified foreign airlines of the nationality-related requirements in early October. The restrictions reportedly extend to dual nationals, potentially affecting employees who also hold French citizenship.

United Airlines has reportedly incorporated similar requirements into its crew-planning procedures, while Czech carrier Smartwings has confirmed receiving the directive. Smartwings said the rules had not affected its operations or crew assignments at the time of its statement.

The policy has raised concerns about potential discrimination. Legal experts have questioned whether airlines enforcing nationality-based restrictions imposed by another country could face challenges under their own countries’ employment and anti-discrimination laws.

Although Israel’s reported policy is framed around nationality and diplomatic relations rather than religion, its impact could fall disproportionately on employees from Muslim-majority countries.

The extent of the operational impact on international airlines remains unclear. The issue highlights the tension between complying with a destination country’s entry requirements and protecting employees from potentially discriminatory treatment.