Thousands of Israelis Stranded Abroad as Flights Canceled
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Israelis are stranded in East Asia due to canceled Flydubai flights.
- Alternative flights home are extremely expensive, costing up to 18,000 shekels.
- Rescue efforts are primarily focused on Israelis already in Dubai.
- Flydubai has suspended flights to Israel indefinitely.
- Stranded travelers face long, costly journeys and limited airline assistance.
Thousands of Israelis are stranded in Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan following the cancellation of Flydubai flights, with rescue efforts primarily focused on Dubai. For those whose travel plans involved connecting through the UAE, the journey home has become a complex and prohibitively expensive ordeal. One reserve major, Tal, described her situation as dire, facing limited options for return due to military obligations that restrict her from entering Arab countries, even for transit. She noted that a fellow officer was quoted 34,000 shekels for four El Al tickets to avoid transit through Arab nations.
Travelers are reporting significant difficulties in finding alternative flights, with some offered connections involving 30-hour layovers in various destinations, requiring transit through Dubai. Direct flights with Israeli airlines are also scarce and costly, with Arkia flights starting at $2,000 and El Al tickets reaching 18,000 shekels. Many Israelis are struggling to reach customer service representatives from airlines, who are not providing adequate assistance for those stranded outside of Dubai.
Some stranded Israelis are opting for lengthy and expensive routes through Europe, covering additional costs for flights and accommodation themselves. Others are attempting shorter journeys, flying to Amman or Aqaba and then traveling by taxi to the Israeli border. One passenger reported that their Flydubai flight on October 8 was canceled, and while offered a refund, El Al's rescue flights are fully booked until at least October 15.
Flydubai has suspended all flights to Israel until further notice, with bookings to Tel Aviv blocked until at least October 15, 2026. The airline stated that the resumption of operations will depend on developments and coordination with security authorities. Meanwhile, Israelis in the Far East remain thousands of miles from home, facing canceled tickets, expensive alternatives, and arduous travel routes in their quest to return to Israel.
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