Brussels Airlines flights to Tel Aviv could be disrupted by a dispute between the airline’s management and some of its staff.
Belgian union ACV Puls, which represents some of the airline’s staff, filed a strike notice following the decision to require certain crew members to work on flights to Tel Aviv.
The airline, which is part of the Lufthansa group, resumed its flights to Israel last month but a lack of volunteers reportedly led it to assign employees, contrary to an agreement reached with the unions stipulating that these rotations would be based solely on volunteers.
“Brussels Airlines is thus violating the agreements reached with the unions, which stipulated that only volunteers would be asked to work these flights,” ACV Puls stated.
However, in its statement, the union specifically cites “the ongoing war and genocide in Gaza”
Disruptions are expected to affect flights to and from Tel Aviv. The union warns that more significant actions could be taken if the airline does not reverse its decision.
When flights resumed, the airline relied on volunteer employees. Brussels Airlines now believes that the first flights went smoothly and that it can return to its normal scheduling system. Some staff members could therefore be assigned to these flights without having previously volunteered.
Brussels Airlines assured that the safety of its passengers and crew remains its top priority. The airline stated that it is constantly monitoring the situation.
For travelers, the schedule remains unchanged for now. However, the situation could change rapidly if no compromise is reached between management and employee representatives.
Already in 2025, Brussels Airlines baggage handlers had asked the airline not to resume flights to Israel “until the genocide in Gaza has stopped.”
A joint trade union front then also refuses to work for El Al “or any other Israeli airline” again.