The UAE has completed the transfer of passengers affected by flydubai’s temporary suspension of its Tel Aviv flights. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said 37 flights carried 7,479 passengers from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2 October 2026.
How The Transfer Operation Worked
Authorities granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai, running alongside Etihad Airways’ services. The measure was designed as an alternative to the regular scheduled flights that were disrupted, giving travellers options while the suspension was in place.
For passengers, the practical effect was a quick reshuffle. Instead of waiting for flydubai to restore its own schedule, travellers could be moved on the Etihad and Israeli carrier flights that authorities had cleared, with the operation running from Friday up to the GCAA’s update on Monday.
Stranded Passengers Are Home
The GCAA confirmed that the coordination effort for passengers whose flights were disrupted is now complete. Those who were left stranded have returned to their destinations, so the backlog created by the suspension has been cleared.
Etihad Airways continues to operate its Tel Aviv flights according to its regular schedule. The GCAA said this keeps more travel options open for passengers on the route.
Why Flydubai Paused Its Tel Aviv Flights
The suspension followed a security incident on flydubai flight FZ1073, as reported by Gulf News. Emirates also suspended codeshare flights with flydubai to Tel Aviv, and passengers whose final destination was Tel Aviv were not accepted for travel at their point of origin. Gulf News also reported that the UAE ordered an investigation into the incident.
The GCAA’s statement doesn’t say when flydubai services to Tel Aviv will resume, so that remains unconfirmed, and travellers should not assume normal service is back until the airline says so. The authority described the suspension as temporary.
Also Read: Sheikh Hamdan Visits Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar, Praises His Courage After Mid-Air Crisis
What Tel Aviv-Bound Travellers Should Do
If you’re booked on a Tel Aviv itinerary, the safest approach is to check your flight status directly with your airline before heading to the airport. Details can change quickly, and each carrier handles rebooking and refunds under its own policies.
The GCAA said it will keep coordinating with the relevant authorities and the airlines concerned to support the continuity of air transport and passenger services. For travellers, that means the focus now shifts from getting stranded passengers home to confirming how and when regular schedules return.
For now, Etihad remains the UAE carrier operating scheduled flights to Tel Aviv, while Israeli carriers were permitted to run additional services into Dubai during the disruption.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Aflo Images from アフロ（Aflo）
FAQs
How many passengers were transferred to Tel Aviv?
The GCAA said 37 flights carried 7,479 passengers from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2 October 2026.
Why did flydubai suspend its Tel Aviv flights?
flydubai suspended its Israel flights after a security incident on flight FZ1073. The UAE has also ordered an investigation into the incident.
Is Etihad still flying to Tel Aviv?
Yes. The GCAA said Etihad Airways continues to operate its Tel Aviv flights according to its scheduled timetable.
When will flydubai resume flights to Tel Aviv?
The GCAA hasn't given a date. It describes the suspension as temporary, so check flydubai directly for the latest status on your booking
