Flydubai has extended the cancellation of all flights to and from Tel Aviv until the end of October, as Israel and the United Arab Emirates remain divided over security arrangements at Dubai’s airports. The Dubai-based airline announced the extension on October 15, 2026, citing the continued instability of the security situation.
The suspension began after the September 30 attack on flydubai Flight 1073, when an Omani copilot assaulted the captain and tried to crash the plane, according to The Times of Israel. Almost all of the passengers were Israeli, and the captain and several of them subdued the copilot. Flydubai had operated about 10 daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, each carrying roughly 170 passengers.
Israeli Airlines Lose Dubai Landing Permits
Israeli carriers stepped in with repatriation flights, but the UAE revoked their Dubai landing permits on October 7. Arkia, Israir and El Al canceled their remaining flights, which affected an estimated 1,000 Israelis, the Times of Israel reported. Israel’s Transportation Ministry said at least 7,415 passengers had already returned on special Israeli flights and on Etihad Airways through Abu Dhabi.
Security Talks Stall
An Israeli delegation led by Transportation Minister Miri Regev did not travel to the UAE this week because the two sides could not agree on minimum security requirements, Globes reported. Israel wants to station its own security personnel at Dubai airports and to install x-ray screening for baggage loaded onto aircraft. The UAE has not agreed to either demand. Channel 12 reported that the UAE will withhold details of its full investigation into the attack, and Israeli airlines no longer expect to resume Dubai flights in the near term.
Delta Flight 234 Draws Two Bomb Threats
Separately, an anonymous bomb threat on October 13 led Israeli authorities to isolate Delta Flight 234 from New York at Ben Gurion Airport. Passengers were evacuated and the aircraft was searched, and the Israel Airports Authority said the incident ended with no unusual findings. The Jerusalem Post reported that police at JFK received a second call claiming a bomb was on board before the next Flight 234 departure. The flight was held and allowed to leave only after US security authorities finished their inspections and Israeli security gave clearance.
Travelers with flydubai tickets between Tel Aviv and Dubai through October 31 should expect cancellations. Etihad Airways flights through Abu Dhabi have carried returning Israelis, and Arkia offered full refunds on its canceled Dubai repatriation tickets. More on the airline lineup between New York and Tel Aviv is in our NYC-TLV competition report.
Reported by The Times of Israel, Globes and The Jerusalem Post. Flydubai photo by Anna Zvereva via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Delta photo by 4300streetcar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
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