Israeli airlines are stepping in to assist passengers stranded in the United Arab Emirates following the suspension of flydubai flights to Israel. This move comes after an incident where a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia due to an alleged attack by the copilot on the pilot, prompting an ongoing investigation by UAE authorities.
El Al, Arkia, and Israir have announced plans to operate special repatriation flights from Dubai starting this Friday. These flights will run empty from Tel Aviv to Dubai and will return with Israeli passengers who were initially scheduled to fly back on flydubai or Emirates flights. The Israeli government has committed to compensating the airlines for the costs associated with these outbound flights.
El Al is set to offer two Dubai-Tel Aviv flights on Friday, while Arkia will provide one. Israir is also organizing additional flights. Ticket prices for the one-way journey have been established at $249 for El Al, $279 for Arkia, and $299 for Israir, with directives to keep the pricing reasonable for travelers.
Additionally, Israel’s Transportation Ministry has reached out to Etihad Airways, requesting extra flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv to help facilitate the return of stranded passengers. For those unable to return directly from Dubai, alternative routes are being arranged through European cities and nearby hubs such as Athens and Larnaca. However, some travelers may need to organize their onward journeys to Israel independently.