Emirates Halts Transit Passengers to Israel Following Security Incident

Emirates, the primary airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced new transit restrictions for passengers traveling to Israel. The airline will no longer accept passengers destined for Ben Gurion Airport on flights originating from various countries into the UAE. This decision stems from the aftermath of an attempted security incident aboard a Flydubai aircraft.

Emirates has temporarily suspended ticket sales for its code-sharing flights to and from Tel Aviv. The new policy took effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice. The airline stated it is working to prevent situations where Israeli passengers might be stranded in Dubai without onward travel options. Passengers already en route to Tel Aviv via Dubai will be assisted by Emirates to complete their journeys where possible. Full refunds will be provided for tickets booked on Emirates or Flydubai flights.

Emirates later clarified that transit passengers might be permitted on flights to Tel Aviv through Dubai if evacuation flights are coordinated. This measure aims to ensure Israeli passengers can reach their destination. Earlier, the UAE's Ministry of Transport reported that Flydubai had suspended its flights to and from Israel.

Israeli airlines are preparing to evacuate citizens on October 2, pending final approval from security agencies. These flights will bring Israelis back to their home country from the UAE. Previously, El Al had intended to resume direct flights between Israel and Dubai in November, following an eight-month hiatus, though final dates were contingent on government approvals.