In response to flydubai’s suspension of services to Israel, Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir are stepping up to facilitate repatriation flights from Dubai, starting Friday. This move aims to assist Israelis stranded in the United Arab Emirates following an incident involving a flydubai flight, where a copilot allegedly attacked the pilot, leading to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The matter is currently under investigation by UAE authorities.
The Israeli government has announced that it will compensate these airlines for the outbound flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai, which will carry no passengers. Upon return, the flights will bring back Israelis who had been scheduled to travel with flydubai or via Emirates connections. El Al is set to operate two Dubai-Tel Aviv flights on Friday, while Arkia has planned one flight. Israir is also preparing additional services to accommodate stranded travelers.
Ticket prices have been set at $249 for El Al, $279 for Arkia, and $299 for Israir. The airlines have been directed to maintain reasonable pricing for these special flights. Additionally, Israel’s Transportation Ministry has requested extra flights from Etihad Airways between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv to aid in the repatriation effort.
For passengers unable to return through Dubai, alternative routes are being offered through European destinations and nearby hubs such as Athens and Larnaca. However, some travelers may have to make separate arrangements for onward flights to Israel.