Attempted Hijacking May Pave Way for Israeli Airlines' Return to Dubai

An attempted hijacking of a Flydubai plane on Wednesday may be the catalyst that allows Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia to resume flights to Dubai after months of being sidelined. The incident has prompted concerns in the UAE that Israel's Ministry of Transport might suspend Flydubai's flights to Israel, leading Emirati authorities to express a willingness to compromise on security demands from Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet. Israel has been awaiting a bilateral agreement to regulate security issues, including screening facilities and security personnel, which has kept Israeli carriers off the routes to the UAE. Industry insiders believe the hijacking attempt could break this deadlock.

Israeli airlines have argued that as long as Flydubai and Etihad exclusively control the routes to the UAE, there is little incentive for Emirati authorities to resolve the issue. However, the situation shifted when Transportation Minister Miri Regev threatened to freeze all Flydubai flights to Israel. During a security discussion on Wednesday, Regev demanded the Shin Bet lift its restrictions and allow Israeli airlines access.

Regev pointed out that the suspected hijacker was Omani, and Flydubai should not have allowed him to fly to Israel, as Oman does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Following this violation, Regev instructed her ministry to explore halting all Flydubai flights to Israel. In such a scenario, if Israeli airlines remain barred from flying to the UAE, the route could be entirely suspended.

While the Shin Bet has consistently opposed easing security requirements, a resolution now appears possible due to the UAE's newfound willingness to find a solution following the incident. Israeli airlines have not yet received the necessary approval, and even upon receiving it, they will require time to prepare for flight resumption. Nevertheless, their return is expected to increase seat availability, boost competition, and put downward pressure on prices. This could restore Flydubai to its role as a low-cost carrier, ending the recent situation where it and Etihad have effectively dominated the Israel-UAE flight market.