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Israel’s flag carrier El Al is preparing to launch special repatriation flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv, aiming to bring home thousands of Israelis left stranded after flydubai suspended its services to Israel following an onboard security incident.
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Rescue operation follows flydubai suspension
According to published coverage from Israeli and international outlets, flydubai has halted flights to and from Israel while authorities in the region investigate an alleged attempted hijacking on a Dubai to Tel Aviv service that diverted to Saudi Arabia. The decision has left large numbers of Israeli travelers in Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates without a direct way home on their original carrier.
Publicly available information indicates that Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority asked domestic airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia to prepare a coordinated airlift from Dubai. The move is designed to replace the capacity removed from the market and to provide a controlled framework for security, pricing and scheduling as investigations into the incident continue.
El Al, as Israel’s largest carrier, is expected to play a central role in this effort. Reports describe an intensive planning process involving security approvals, coordination with Emirati counterparts and alignment with other Israeli airlines to avoid duplication and to prioritize stranded passengers.
El Al’s special flight program and pricing
El Al has announced plans for a dedicated series of rescue flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, subject to final security clearance. Company statements cited in local media describe a uniform one-way economy “Lite” fare of 249 dollars from Dubai to Israel for these services, including a carry-on bag and trolley-sized cabin luggage.
The airline’s aircraft are expected to depart from Tel Aviv to Dubai without passengers on board and return with stranded travelers, enabling El Al to maximize available seats in the inbound direction. Schedules published so far indicate that the first special flight from Dubai could depart as early as Friday, October 2, with further frequencies added depending on demand and operational conditions.
Tickets are set to be made available through El Al’s regular sales channels once the outstanding approvals are granted. Reports emphasize that passengers holding flydubai tickets will still need to purchase new tickets on El Al or other Israeli carriers, while pursuing refunds and statutory assistance from flydubai separately.
Israeli carriers coordinate broader airlift from Dubai
Beyond El Al’s operation, Israir and Arkia are also preparing special Dubai to Tel Aviv flights to help clear the backlog of Israeli travelers in the emirate. Coverage in Israel’s business press outlines plans for Israir to operate up to two initial rescue flights from Dubai on Friday, with one-way fares reported at about 299 dollars, subject to confirmation of security procedures.
Arkia is reported to be planning additional special flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv over the period from October 2 to October 6, with starting one-way prices around 279 dollars. These services are expected to open for sale once final authorizations are in place, and schedules may be adjusted as more information becomes available.
The Israeli Ministry of Transport has indicated that the state intends to partially compensate local airlines for operating near-empty outbound legs to Dubai, on the condition that carriers maintain what regulators describe as fair and restrained pricing for returning passengers. Public statements from the ministry urge airlines to avoid exploiting the disruption and invite passengers to monitor updated rescue-flight timetables from El Al, Arkia and Israir.
What stranded Israelis in Dubai can expect
Travelers currently in Dubai who had booked on flydubai are being advised, according to publicly available guidance, to contact the Emirati airline directly to exercise their legal rights to refunds, accommodation, meals and other assistance linked to canceled flights. At the same time, those wishing to return to Israel sooner are likely to turn to El Al and other Israeli carriers as the rescue schedule is finalized.
Once tickets open for sale, El Al’s rescue flights are expected to operate from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, aligning with existing infrastructure and security arrangements on both sides. Passengers will need to make their own way to the airport in Dubai and should allow for additional time at check-in and security, as authorities refine procedures following the flydubai incident.
Reports suggest that capacity on the first days of the airlift may be tight, with airlines adding flights as approvals and aircraft availability permit. Travelers with flexibility on travel dates could benefit from slightly wider choice later in the operation, while those with urgent needs to return are being encouraged through media channels to book at the earliest opportunity once sales go live.
Impact on Israel–UAE travel corridor
The disruption arrives less than six years after the launch of regular commercial flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai, a high-profile route that became a symbol of growing ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The temporary suspension of flydubai’s Israel operations and the shift to Israeli-operated rescue services highlight the continuing centrality of security considerations on this corridor.
Observers of the region’s aviation market note that El Al and other Israeli carriers have periodically been called upon to mount repatriation efforts when geopolitical developments, airspace closures or airline suspensions left citizens abroad without straightforward options. The current Dubai airlift fits into that pattern, combining commercial operations with a public-interest mandate to maintain connectivity for Israeli travelers.
In the short term, the focus remains on bringing home those already in Dubai. Looking ahead, further announcements from carriers and regulators will determine how quickly scheduled services on the Dubai–Tel Aviv route can resume and under what security framework, shaping travel plans for tourists, business passengers and the broader flow between the two hubs.