KLM to resume flights to Israel despite staff safety concerns

KLM has announced plans to resume flights to Israel at the end of May, but staff have raised concerns about their safety, public broadcaster NOS reported on Wednesday.

The Dutch flag carrier suspended flights to Israel 11 months ago due to the security situation.

Now, however, the airline says conditions have improved sufficiently to restart services. “Our partner Air France has been flying here for longer, but we needed more time to get up and running again,” a spokesman said.

Union chairman Chris van Elswijk told news agency ANP that multiple members had contacted the organisation to express fears about flying to Tel Aviv. Two weeks ago a missile landed close to Tel Aviv’s main airport and injured six people, an attack which was claimed by the Houti movement in Yemen.

“Colleagues are afraid to fly to an airport where a rocket landed not so long ago,” Van Elswijk told broadcaster NOS. He called on KLM to offer more flexibility to staff and to ensure employees are not forced to work on flights they do not feel comfortable joining.

KLM, the largest airline in the Netherlands, suspended its flights to Israel following the outbreak of war in Gaza in 2023. Most international carriers halted services at the same time.

The airline made a brief attempt to resume flights between April and June 2024, but again suspended the service amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.

The foreign ministry continues to advise against travel to Israel’s border regions with Gaza, Lebanon and Egypt. The advice for the rest of the country has been set at orange since 13 January, meaning travel is only recommended if strictly necessary.

British Airways, United Airlines and Delta Airlines suspended all services until mid June, while Air Canada has postponed its planned restart from 8 June by three months, NOS said.