A conservative right-wing think tank has demanded that United Airlines hand over secret internal files over its decision to ground flights to Tel Aviv amidst suspicions that the flight attendant union exerted political and ideological pressure on the carrier.
Outwardly, it would appear that United Airlines stopped flying to Israel due to safety concerns stemming from rocket and ballistic missile attacks on Tel Aviv, but the National Center for Public Policy Research fears the carrier was influenced by anti-Israel campaigning from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA).
The union says any assertion of politically motivated interference at United is “unfounded and delusional.”
As a shareholder in United Airlines, the National Center requested to inspect classified internal documents in a bid to uncover evidence to back up its fears but was rebuffed by United’s attorneys on two separate occasions.
Safety Concerns or Union Pressure?
The think tank is now suing United in an Illinois district court in a last-ditch effort to compel the airline to hand over the documents that it believes could prove the alleged conspiracy.
The explosive complaint alleges possible “undue influence” by internal labor unions, as well as “unlawful collusion” with Turkish Airlines to restrict flights to Israel.
“Upon information and belief, internal labor unions and politically motivated pressure unduly influenced the decision to terminate flights to Tel Aviv, overriding objective business considerations and compromising shareholder value,” the complaint reads.
“Plaintiff has articulated a clear and specific concern, based upon information available to the public, that United’s continued suspension of flights to Tel Aviv was driven not by operational risk but by political and ideological pressure from the AFA-CWA, whose leadership has publicly aligned with anti-Zionist BDS-style rhetoric.”
A History of Suspensions and Resumptions
United suspended flights to Tel Aviv immediately after the horrific terror attack that Hamas launched on Israel on October 7, 2023, but the airline was also the first US-based carrier to resume flights to Israel in March 2024.
The resumption was, however, short-lived after the security situation in the region quickly deteriorated when Iran launched its first-ever drone attack on Israel.
United returned to Israel for the second time in May 2024, but by August 2024, the carrier had once again pulled the plug on Tel Aviv due to an escalation in hostility between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel.
This time, United stayed out of Israel until March 2025 after President Trump brokered a shaky ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Last month, United suspended flights to Tel Aviv for a fourth time after a ballistic missile struck within the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport.
Flight Attendant Union Leader in Focus
In its lawsuit, the National Center has called out the president of the flight attendant union, Sara Nelson, for her “public statements urging political action against Israel and aligning her union with pro-BDS and ceasefire movements.”
The complaint continues: “Upon information and belief, behind the scenes, the AFA-CWA, led by the influential Sara Nelson, has consistently applied significant pressure on United’s management to isolate Israel economically and diplomatically.”
To back up its claims, the National Center says that in February, United publicly revealed it had worked with the unions that represent pilots and flight attendants in coming to the decision to resume flights to Tel Aviv.
“The inclusion of unions in this context suggests an unusually high degree of influence or involvement in what is normally a management-level strategic or safety decision,” the complaint continues.
Union Responds to Lawsuit
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants said: “AFA expects every one of our airlines to ensure the safety and security of crew on layover.”
“Our advocacy with airline management — no matter the destination — is solely focused on Flight Attendant safety and security.”
The statement added: “Any assertion otherwise unfounded and delusional.”
Delaware Law Could Protect United
The National Center is hoping to force United to hand over an extensive trove of internal documents by using the Illinois Business Corporation Act to compel inspection of corporate books and records.
The airline is, of course, headquartered in Chicago, but, like many US companies, United is incorporated in Delaware, where legal protections for businesses are a lot stronger.
Not the Only Time United Has Faced Criticism
Last August, Democrat congressman Ritchie Torres from New York accused United Airlines, along with American Airlines and Delta, of effectively “boycotting” Israel due to their respective flight suspensions to the country.
In a letter to United chief executive Scott Kirby, the pro-Israel lawmaker wrote: “Airlines should be prohibited from effectively boycotting or otherwise discriminating against the world’s only Jewish state.”
“It is one thing to temporarily suspend air travel to Israel on security grounds as defined by the FAA,” the letter continued. “But to unilaterally suspend air travel indefinitely until mid-2025, as American Airlines has done, has the practical effect of a boycott.”
United Airlines is expected to return to Israel in early June. Delta Air Lines has already resumed flights to Tel Aviv from New York JFK.
Why is it that I’ve never seen you use the phrase “Left Wing”?
Please advise.