El Al cancels Dubai repatriation flights after UAE withdraws landing permits

Friday repatriation flights halted

Israeli flag carrier El Al canceled its scheduled repatriation flights from Dubai on Friday, October 2, after landing permissions were withdrawn by the United Arab Emirates. The airline had scheduled two emergency rescue flights, numbered LY974 and LY972, to return Israeli citizens stranded in the Gulf city. In a public statement on Friday, the carrier detailed the abrupt regulatory block.

Due to the cancellation of the landing permit of Israeli companies in Dubai, as reported by Israeli authorities, we are forced at this time to cancel our rescue flights LY972 and LY974, scheduled for Friday, October 2.

El Al spokesperson Michal Raz Chaimovitz confirmed the cancellation of Friday services from Dubai without providing a revised schedule for resumption. The Israeli Ministry of Transport stated that it could not organize special flights immediately due to ongoing security coordination requirements with authorities in the United Arab Emirates.

The flights scheduled from Dubai for this Friday are canceled.

Cockpit altercation triggers flight suspensions

The travel disruption began on Wednesday morning when a FlyDubai aircraft en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The flight was carrying 174 people, including 166 Israeli citizens, before making an emergency landing in Saudi territory. Press reports stated that the co-pilot attacked the pilot in an attempt to crash the aircraft, an incident that remains under official investigation.

Following the emergency landing, FlyDubai suspended all regular flight operations between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The suspension left hundreds of Israeli travelers in Dubai without scheduled return flights, prompting Israeli government officials and carriers to organize special repatriation measures.

Stranded passengers and logistical standoff

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that state funding had been allocated to charter rescue flights to evacuate stranded citizens. El Al had organized the operations so that aircraft would fly empty from Israel to Dubai and return with passengers who held bookings with FlyDubai. Tickets for the chartered flights were priced at a single flat rate of $249 (approximately €220), with passengers restricted to hand luggage only.

Under the initial schedule announced on Thursday, flight LY974 was set to depart Dubai for Tel Aviv at 11:00 on Friday, followed by flight LY972 at 13:00. Those departures were suspended pending official landing clearance from Emirati authorities. The Israeli Ministry of Transport advised Israeli citizens remaining in Dubai to stay in continuous contact with airlines as security coordination proceeded.

Resumption plans and route background

El Al has not operated regular scheduled routes between Israel and Dubai since late February, when flights were halted following the outbreak of the war involving Iran. On Wednesday, the airline announced that it planned to resume regular commercial operations to Dubai in November. Other Israeli carriers, including Israir and Arkia, also announced plans to restore Dubai services once safety and security approvals are granted.

Following Friday's cancellations, El Al listed commercial flights on its website between Dubai and Tel Aviv starting Sunday, October 4. The carrier stated that it remains prepared to operate rescue flights to Dubai as soon as official approvals from Emirati authorities are secured.