Paris -- An entire Air France crew and several individual flight attendants have refused to board flights to Mexico since Saturday because of the outbreak of swine flu, airport sources said Wednesday.

Under French law employees may refuse to stay on their job if they have "a reasonable motive" to believe that their health or life is seriously and imminently threatened.

A pilot who was to fly from Paris to Mexico on Saturday refused to do so for health reasons citing the swine flu crisis.

His refusal automatically involved the aircraft's crew which was replaced, airport officials said.

Since Saturday several flight attendants have said they will not fly to Mexico citing "fatigue," the only reason accepted under French industrial law.

Air France would not comment when questioned by AFP.

"We have urged Air France bosses to put in place the same system used during the avian flu in Asia," said CFDT trade union secretary Cyril Jouan.

During the bird flu crisis, known as SARS which began in 2003, Air France flight attendants could chose not to board a flight that crossed into a risk-area without facing penalty.

Air France has not cancelled any of the ten flights it operates between Paris and Mexico despite the swine flu scare. Instead, since Saturday its attendants flying to Mexico have received medical briefings and masks have been made available to them.

AFP/Expatica