El Al cancels Dubai repatriation flights after UAE denies landing approval
Israeli airline El Al has cancelled repatriation flights from Dubai after the United Arab Emirates revoked landing approval for Israeli companies. The carrier announced in a prominent advisory that it was forced to cancel rescue flights LY974-1 and LY972 scheduled for Friday, October 2, due to the withdrawal of landing permissions reported by Israeli authorities.
Overnight reports indicated the UAE had rescinded its clearance for Israeli airline operations. However, Israel's Transportation Ministry had initially stated that while delays were anticipated, the journeys would still proceed. According to Channel 12, the official cancellation followed extended discussions between high-ranking Israeli and Emirati officials that failed to produce final agreements and authorizations for Israeli aircraft to land in the nation.
Scheduled services for the following week remain on El Al's timetable, though those departures are entirely booked out, according to the airline's announcement. The aviation disruptions occur against the backdrop of a September 30 security incident involving a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the aircraft commander in an apparent terror-driven attempt.
