El Al, Arkia Boost Asia Flights After Dubai Hijacking Attempt

Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia are increasing flights from Asia to help Israelis return home following a hijacking attempt on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday. El Al has launched a dedicated WhatsApp service for Israelis seeking return flights from any destination it serves, including those who initially traveled with other airlines. The company also plans a special charter flight from Bangkok to Israel in the coming days to assist Israelis in Thailand. Arkia is similarly enhancing its direct flights to Israel from Bangkok, Hanoi, and Phuket, based on demand, and has also opened a special service for travelers wishing to return to Israel, regardless of their initial airline.

These moves come after El Al and the IDF offered to send an Hercules transport plane to Saudi Arabia to evacuate passengers from the flydubai flight, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk. Saudi authorities rejected this offer, and another flydubai plane was eventually sent to bring the passengers back to Israel. Concurrently, Israeli authorities are investigating how the initial flight was allowed to depart for Israel. Transportation Minister Miri Regev is participating in security consultations led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, focusing on whether flydubai violated an agreement that might have prohibited the Omani pilot from flying to Israel. A senior Transportation Ministry official told i24NEWS that Regev intends to request a suspension of flydubai flights pending the investigation, with Israeli carriers temporarily replacing them.

At Ben-Gurion Airport, the Israel Airports Authority has also established a reception and information area for the families of the flydubai flight passengers, following instructions from Minister Regev.