Israel: Crew With Certain Second Passports Barred From Tel Aviv Flights

United Airlines has warned its crew that holding citizenship of certain countries — even as a second nationality — now prevents them from working the airline's flights to and from Tel Aviv. The airline said Israeli authorities have issued updated requirements on the nationality and dual citizenship of crew members on flights entering Israeli airspace.

Key facts

• What applies: updated Israeli requirements on crew nationality and dual citizenship for flights entering Israeli airspace
• Who is covered: crew members holding citizenship or dual nationality of countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel
• Scope: currently United flights to and from Tel Aviv (TLV)
• Countries named: 29, though United cautions the list may not be exhaustive
• U.S. passport holders: American citizenship does not override a second nationality on the list
• Effective date: none is given in the memo

What is changing?

United told staff in an internal scheduling alert that crew members who hold citizenship or dual nationality of certain countries that do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel may not operate or be onboard flights entering Israeli airspace. The restriction is based on citizenship, including dual citizenship — not place of birth or religion, the airline said.

United said the requirement currently affects its flights to and from Tel Aviv. The airline is working to build the requirement into its crew planning systems so that affected assignments can be identified in advance, but for now it is asking employees to flag the issue themselves.

Which nationalities are affected?

The memo lists 29 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Venezuela and Yemen. United cautions that the list may not be exhaustive.

In practice, a U.S. citizen who also holds one of these nationalities is affected. Holding an American passport does not resolve the issue if the employee retains a second nationality covered by the restriction.

What should affected crew do?

United asked crew who hold citizenship or dual nationality of a country without formal diplomatic relations with Israel and are currently scheduled for affected flying to contact Crew Scheduling as soon as possible, so the airline can make any necessary scheduling adjustments.

Why is this happening?

United attributed the change to updated Israeli requirements. The airline's memo follows an attack aboard a flydubai flight, after which Israeli officials said restrictions already existed against pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, according to the account published of the incident.

What this means for travellers

The memo concerns crew assignments rather than passengers. The source does not state whether the same nationality rules apply to travellers flying to Israel, and it gives no change to passenger entry requirements.

No start date has been announced, and United has not said when its crew planning systems will be updated to flag affected assignments automatically.