Israel-UAE Flights Halted as Security Talks Postponed

Flydubai requested permission from Israel's Ministry of Transport to resume flights, but the request was denied by Minister Miri Regev and the Civil Aviation Authority. The airline, through its Emirati authorities, then proposed sending an Israeli professional delegation to Dubai to examine the results of Flydubai's internal investigation and security procedures aimed at preventing future incidents. A meeting was scheduled for Monday, October 12, but was subsequently postponed. Both sides offer different reasons for the delay. Sources in the Ministry of Transport stated that Regev asked for a postponement to review her ministry's ongoing investigation. The aviation industry, however, claims the UAE initiated the postponement to maintain the meeting's professional focus and prevent it from becoming a governmental or political event. Disagreements over security measures remain a significant obstacle, with the Shin Bet demanding scanner-based screening and enhanced security, which UAE authorities refuse to implement. The postponement has raised concerns among Israeli carriers that flights may not resume without the meeting. Israir has stopped selling tickets until the end of November, citing instructions from the Shin Bet, Civil Aviation Authority, and other authorized bodies. Israir stated they were informed that a meeting with the transport minister was planned to resolve the crisis and restore flights, and decided to halt sales to avoid leaving passengers uncertain after the postponement. The airline emphasized it is not the cause of the crisis and is working towards the swift resumption of flights. Arkia is the only airline still selling tickets for November, despite no clear timeline for flight authorization. Flights between Israel and Dubai were suspended following an attempted terror attack on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, with only a few repatriation flights operated by Israeli airlines being an exception.