The operation to move passengers stranded by flydubai’s suspended Tel Aviv route is complete. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) says 37 flights operated from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport between October 2 and October 5, carrying 7,479 passengers, according to the WAM-based report carried by Aviation Business Middle East.

The flights were arranged after flydubai temporarily suspended its Tel Aviv services following the September 30 incident on flight FZ1073, which diverted to Tabuk. With the regular schedule paused, UAE authorities granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai, running alongside Etihad Airways services as alternative options for affected travellers, Curly Tales reports.

How the replacement operation worked

Instead of waiting for flydubai to restore its own flights, passengers were re-accommodated across the permitted Israeli carrier services and Etihad’s continuing Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv flights. The GCAA says coordination for passengers whose journeys were disrupted has now been completed, and those who were left stranded have returned to their destinations.

Aircraft tails at Dubai International Airport terminal gates
Israeli carriers were granted permits to operate to Dubai alongside Etihad services during the operation.

What remains suspended, and what is still flying

flydubai’s own Dubai-Tel Aviv services remain temporarily suspended, and the airline has not announced a resumption date. Etihad Airways continues to operate its Tel Aviv flights to its scheduled timetable, the GCAA noted, which keeps a direct UAE-Israel air link open while the suspension runs. The circumstances of the FZ1073 incident remain under investigation by the relevant authorities.

If you hold a booking on the route

Check your booking with the operating airline before travelling to the airport, and follow airline messages for rebooking or refund options on suspended services. If a changed itinerary leaves you with an unplanned night in Dubai, our Dubai International Airport guide and hotels near DXB page cover the practical basics, and the Dubai tourist visa guide explains entry rules if your plans change to a stopover.

Travellers with luggage walking through an airport departure hall
The GCAA says coordination for stranded passengers is now complete.

FAQs

How many passengers were transferred to Tel Aviv?

7,479 passengers on 37 flights between October 2 and 5, according to the GCAA.

Why were the special flights needed?

flydubai temporarily suspended its Tel Aviv services after the September 30 FZ1073 incident, leaving passengers without their booked flights.

Is any airline still flying between the UAE and Tel Aviv?

Yes. Etihad Airways continues to operate scheduled Tel Aviv flights, and Israeli carriers were permitted to operate to Dubai during the transfer operation.

When will flydubai resume Tel Aviv flights?

No resumption date has been announced. The suspension is described as temporary.