Israeli airlines are preparing to operate special rescue flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv following an attempted hijacking on a flydubai flight earlier this week, officials said Thursday. The move comes after flydubai suspended all flights to and from Ben-Gurion Airport as authorities continue investigating the incident.
El Al confirmed it will offer special flights to return Israeli passengers stranded in the United Arab Emirates. Tickets for these flights will be priced at $249 for a Lite fare, which includes carry-on baggage. Meanwhile, Israir announced plans to resume service on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route with eight to 10 weekly flights pending final security approvals. The airline is also preparing two rescue flights scheduled for Friday, initially selling one-way tickets from Dubai to Tel Aviv for $299.
A source within Israel’s Transportation Ministry indicated that representatives from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) had traveled to Dubai to coordinate security arrangements necessary for the resumption of Israeli airline operations. Flights are expected to restart Friday following the receipt of final approvals.
In addition to Israeli carriers, Emirates and Etihad Airways are reportedly considering increasing their flight frequencies between the UAE and Israel. Etihad currently operates two daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Israel, and Israeli officials have made an urgent request for the airline to expand its service to support passenger demand after flydubai’s suspension.
The Israeli Transportation Ministry stated that the rescue flights were designed to assist Israelis seeking to return home, providing greater flexibility amid the ongoing investigation. The suspension of flydubai’s service followed directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the head of Shin Bet, who recommended halting flights until security concerns are fully addressed.
To support the rescue efforts, the Transportation Ministry reached an agreement with the Finance Ministry to reimburse Israeli airlines for operating empty outbound flights to the UAE before carrying passengers back to Israel. Officials emphasized that airline pricing should remain fair and not exploit the current circumstances.
Passengers affected by the flydubai suspension have been advised to contact the airline to exercise their legal rights, including reimbursement, accommodation, and additional assistance as needed.
Transportation Minister Regev also called on the Shin Bet to investigate reports that the hijacker pilot might hold Omani nationality. Flydubai’s operational agreement with Israel requires pilots to be citizens of countries that have normalized relations with Israel, a criterion Oman does not meet. The investigation into the hijacking remains ongoing.