Israel to Subsidize Flights from Dubai Amidst Security Concerns

The Israeli government is set to approve a measure to cover up to nine million shekels in expenses for Israeli airlines operating flights from Dubai. This decision comes in response to the suspension of Flydubai flights, which has left thousands of Israelis stranded in the UAE. The government will fund the cost of empty return flights from Israel to Dubai, a move necessitated by security directives. The aim is to facilitate the repatriation of Israeli citizens and mitigate financial losses for the airlines.

The proposed resolution states that the state will participate in the costs associated with flights departing from Israel to Dubai without passengers. This is to enable Israeli carriers to operate return flights without bearing the full economic burden alone. The mechanism will operate under the guidelines of the Civil Aviation Authority and specific conditions.

This initiative is designed to address the situation of thousands of Israelis affected by the halt in regular Flydubai services. The airline typically operates around ten flights daily between Dubai and Israel. The suspension created a need for alternative flights to bring passengers back.

The budget allocated for this measure is up to nine million shekels, with 5.5 million shekels drawn from an existing government budget and an additional 3.5 million shekels from the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety. The government's contribution will be capped at the cost of the empty flight legs and will not cover all operational expenses.