Dubai Flight Crisis Resolved, But El Al Cancels All Flights for Friday

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation announced late Thursday night that a crisis preventing the return of Israelis from Dubai had been resolved, with flights expected to resume Friday, October 2. However, El Al announced Friday morning that its two scheduled flights would be canceled. Arkia remains the only airline preparing to operate rescue flights, though their departure is uncertain.

The Ministry of Transportation stated that following a reconsideration by the Emirates of the approval granted to Israeli airlines for rescue flights, it was agreed that flights from Dubai to Israel would commence on Friday. The Ministry cautioned, however, that due to necessary security preparations and coordination, a delay in the departure of these flights was expected.

El Al confirmed the cancellation of its Friday flights, citing the proximity to Shabbat as the likely reason for their eventual cancellation. The airline is now preparing to resume flights next week on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with all available seats already booked. Tickets for El Al's flights, priced at $249 for a 'Lite' fare, sold out within five minutes.

Arkia also opened sales for its rescue flights, which, unlike El Al's, were planned to operate on Shabbat if all issues were resolved. Their flights were to start from $279 per passenger. Israir has not yet opened ticket sales, stating they will do so once certainty is established. All airlines emphasized that baggage restrictions would apply, with checked luggage to be sent separately to Israel.

Intense negotiations involving the Shin Bet, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transportation, and Israel's Ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Shai, took place overnight with the UAE to resolve the crisis. The situation arose after an attempted attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani citizen, allegedly attacked the Indian captain in an attempt to hijack the plane. Israeli crew and passengers intervened, subduing the attacker, and the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel pending investigation, leaving hundreds of Israelis stranded. Emirates, Flydubai's sister company, also suspended its codeshare agreement with Flydubai on routes to and from Israel and barred passengers with Tel Aviv as a final destination from boarding Emirates flights to Dubai for onward travel to Israel.