FlyDubai Halts Flights From Israel, Tourists Seek New Routes

FlyDubai has suspended its flights between Israel and Dubai, impacting travel options for Israelis heading to Asia. While Dubai served as a convenient transit hub for destinations like Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, tourists can still reach these locations with layovers, though ticket prices have increased significantly.

According to a study by the travel company Gulliver, alternative transit airports such as Addis Ababa, Tashkent, Baku, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt can replace Dubai. The cheapest option identified is a flight to Bangkok via Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa, starting at approximately $741 per person. Flights to Tokyo with KLM via Amsterdam are priced from $1066, while Air India offers routes to Manila from $1012. Travel to Hanoi via El Al and Vietnam Airlines through Frankfurt is estimated at a minimum of $1286, and a route to Bangkok via Uzbekistan Airlines through Tashkent costs from $1378.

Tamar Garzon, General Director of Gulliver, acknowledged that the suspension of FlyDubai flights has reduced convenient connections. However, she emphasized that Israeli passengers still have alternatives. Garzon advised travelers to compare not only ticket prices but also layover durations when selecting new routes, as some alternatives offer reasonable waiting times between flights.