Arkia forced to cancel Dubai repatriation flights after authorization rescinded by UAE authorities

Arki, the Israeli airline, was compelled to cancel its repatriation flights from Dubai on Wednesday, following the withdrawal of authorization by UAE authorities. According to the airline, it held the necessary permissions until Tuesday evening. Efforts to regain the authorization have been unsuccessful. Arkia announced that it will refund the entire ticket price to all passengers whose flights were canceled.

Additionally, passengers who have reached a country from where flights to Israel depart will receive a 10% discount on tickets to Israel. The airline's first repatriation flight to Dubai had landed at Ben-Gurion Airport earlier in the month. This occurred after UAE authorities revoked landing permission for an El Al flight. El Al had also stated its intention to operate a specialized rescue flight schedule to recover Israelis in Dubai following a hijacking attempt on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Last week, it was reported that Israir was preparing to resume operations on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route, with plans to conduct eight to 10 flights per week, contingent upon obtaining all required permits from the relevant authorities. A source familiar with the United Arab Emirates expressed criticism of the term "rescue flights" used by Israeli officials, stating that the term is typically associated with countries where safety is at risk.

According to this source, everything Israel requested had been granted by the UAE, and Flydubai had agreed to fly to Israel under different protocols, similar to those used by Etihad. However, the Israelis refused.