UAE GCAA says Tel Aviv passenger transfer completed after flydubai suspension
Version 2: No substantive change: the same aviation regulator announcement, now carried by an additional outlet.
In short
The General Civil Aviation Authority said it has completed the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv after flydubai temporarily suspended flights to that destination. It said 37 flights ran from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport from Friday, 2nd October 2026, carrying 7,479 passengers, and that passengers left stranded have returned to their destinations. Etihad Airways continues to operate its scheduled Tel Aviv flights, the authority said.
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The General Civil Aviation Authority announced on 5th October 2026 that it has completed the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv, after flydubai temporarily suspended its flights to that destination. A total of 37 flights were operated from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2nd October 2026, carrying 7,479 passengers, the authority said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the GCAA, the relevant authorities in the country granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai, alongside flights operated by Etihad Airways, as part of measures taken as an alternative to the regular scheduled flights affected by the flydubai suspension, providing travel options for passengers during that period. The authority said coordination for the return of passengers whose flights were disrupted and who were left stranded has been completed and that they have returned to their destinations. Etihad Airways continues to operate its flights to Tel Aviv according to its scheduled flights, the GCAA said, expanding the travel options available. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The authority said it continues its coordination with all relevant authorities and the airlines concerned in support of the continuity of air transport and passenger service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The documents differ on one point of wording: Aletihad's report describes the temporary suspension of flydubai flights as being to “the Israeli capital”, while the state news agency and Emirates 24|7 refer only to “that destination”. Neither document states why flydubai suspended the route, when the suspension began, or whether it has since ended. The permits granted to Israeli carriers are mentioned without a stated duration, and no figure is given for the number of passengers affected before 2nd October 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The announcement describes restored travel options on the UAE–Tel Aviv route after a carrier suspended service, with the aviation regulator coordinating permits for Israeli carriers and the return of disrupted passengers. The documents do not say whether flydubai's suspension has ended, so the effect is limited to the passengers and carriers involved on this route.
Key facts
- The General Civil Aviation Authority announced that the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv has been completed, following the temporary suspension of flydubai flights to that destination. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A total of 37 flights were operated from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2nd October 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Those flights carried 7,479 passengers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The relevant authorities in the country granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai, alongside flights operated by Etihad Airways, as an alternative to the regular scheduled flights affected by the flydubai suspension. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said coordination for the return of passengers whose flights were disrupted and who were left stranded has been completed and that they have returned to their destinations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Etihad Airways continues to operate its flights to Tel Aviv according to its scheduled flights, the authority said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said it continues coordination with all relevant authorities and the airlines concerned to support the continuity of air transport and passenger service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The GCAA announced the completion of passenger transfers to Tel Aviv following the temporary suspension of flydubai flights to that destination. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 37 flights carried 7,479 passengers from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2nd October 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Israeli carriers were granted permits to operate flights to Dubai alongside Etihad Airways flights as an alternative arrangement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said stranded passengers whose flights were disrupted have returned to their destinations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Etihad Airways continues its scheduled flights to Tel Aviv. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Why flydubai temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv and when the suspension began. The documents state only that the suspension was “temporary” and give no reason or start date.
- Whether the flydubai suspension has now ended or continues. The documents describe alternative arrangements but do not say the suspension has been lifted.
- How long the permits granted to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai remain valid. The permits are mentioned without a duration or expiry.
- How many passengers were affected in total before 2nd October 2026. Only the 7,479 passengers carried on the 37 flights since that date are quantified.
- Whether Tel Aviv should be described as the Israeli capital, as one outlet does. Aletihad's report refers to Tel Aviv as “the Israeli capital” while the other two documents say only “that destination”.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Flights from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport begin, part of the 37 flights operated since Friday, 2nd October 2026 carrying 7,479 passengers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Emirates News Agency (WAM) publishes the GCAA announcement that passenger transport operations to Tel Aviv have been completed. [ 1 ]
- Aletihad carries the same GCAA announcement. [ 2 ]
- Emirates 24|7 carries the same GCAA announcement. [ 3 ]