"Just address me": Meet Nasrin, the first Druze flight attendant at Air Haifa

The young Israeli airline Air Haifa is groundbreaking in many ways. This applies not only to the unconventional choice to operate flights from the airport in Haifa, which other airlines abandoned due to its short runway, but also to the company's core philosophy. The company's name is displayed in both Hebrew and Arabic on the tails of its planes, and the crew is a diverse mix of Jews and Arabs. Nasrin Hadid, the first Druze flight attendant at Air Haifa, perfectly embodies this vision. "I may be the first, but certainly not the last," she emphasizes.

When passengers hear Nasrin's welcome over the PA system, many are surprised. Some recognize the accent, while others realize later that she is from the Druze community. For Nasrin, this moment symbolizes what Air Haifa is trying to build.

"When I address Arabic-speaking passengers in their native language, they smile and feel at home," she says. "It is as if the company is telling everyone: we see you, we hear you, we respect you."

"Probably this was my destiny"

For the 49-year-old resident of Daliyat al-Karmel, working in aviation is a national mission and the realization of a long-held dream. After 12 years at Cellcom and years in ground services, the events of October 7, 2023, changed everything. Foreign airlines left Israel, and Nasrin found herself out of work. "That was exactly when recruitment for Air Haifa began," she recalls. "Our paths simply crossed. It was a cosmic event; it was my destiny."

Nasrin notes that unlike veteran airlines, Air Haifa is still growing. "I am from the first course of flight attendants. We are growing and learning together, so the company's success is my personal success," she says.

"I don't think I ever felt such pride"

Nasrin describes her work as dynamic and challenging, going far beyond serving coffee. "Every day you meet new people and face different situations. It is Israeli society in miniature; it is Haifa in the air."

One of her strongest memories comes from the early days of the war. When the crew was ordered to move the planes to Cyprus, it felt like an emergency reserve call-up. "Within an hour and a half, we gathered at the airport and flew the planes to Larnaca. There was some risk, but it was our job, and I am proud of it," she says. Later, when the company began operating rescue flights, Nasrin felt a true sense of mission in bringing people home.

"I did not encounter objections. On the contrary"

Nasrin grew up in a close-knit family in Daliyat al-Karmel. Her father, Abu Asi Rashrash ("Rashi") Hadid, was a well-known journalist, and her brothers serve in the IDF. She notes that while in the past the profession of a flight attendant might have raised questions in the Druze community, today the reality has changed: "Women choose their own path, and I have received a lot of support."

Today, Nasrin dreams of the company's expansion and new destinations. "I want to see Air Haifa grow and continue to show that people from all sectors can work together successfully," she says. And when asked about her uniform, she does not hesitate: "I am proud to represent Air Haifa and my community. From my point of view, these two things go hand in hand."