Israeli Airlines Face Delays and Cancellations for Dubai Rescue Flights

A dramatic situation continues to unfold regarding Israeli rescue flights from Dubai, with final approvals still pending. El Al has canceled its morning flights, while Arkia is currently in discussions about its planned evening flight. Israir, which had not initially published its flight times due to concerns about the slot allocation process, is also involved.

The Ministry of Transport announced that flights would commence on Friday but cautioned of expected delays for return flights from Dubai. These delays directly impacted El Al's planned 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM departures. The situation is more complex for El Al, which does not operate on Saturdays, making it unlikely they could operate even if approval is granted on Friday.

Despite the ongoing issues, the Ministry of Transport stated it is continuing to work with relevant authorities and advised Israeli citizens in Dubai to stay in contact with their airlines for updates and instructions. Passengers will be restricted to carrying only a backpack, without any checked luggage or carry-on trolleys, due to a Shin Bet requirement for security screening stations at Dubai Airport, which are not expected to be operational until Monday.

This situation follows a disruption on Wednesday when Flydubai canceled its flights until an investigation is completed. Israeli airlines have not flown to the region for over six months due to security concerns, leaving many travelers stranded in the Gulf without options.