Arkia Lands First Repatriation Flight as UAE Revokes El Al Clearance

Key points

• Arkia's first repatriation flight landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Saturday after UAE authorities revoked landing permission for an El Al flight.
• A cargo plane will collect passengers' luggage in Dubai at the UAE's request, while additional Arkia and Israir flights are scheduled to depart on Saturday.
• The Transportation Ministry confirmed that flights were agreed to begin on Friday, October 2, but warned of delays due to necessary security preparations and coordination.
• More than 10,000 Israelis are currently stranded in Dubai and other destinations in Asia, including Thailand and India, according to Finance Ministry estimates.
• A source close to the UAE criticized the Israeli use of the term 'rescue flight,' stating that the UAE agreed to all requests and that Israel rejected alternative protocols offered by Flydubai.
• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich instructed officials to immediately allocate the full budget required by the Transportation Ministry to finance the rescue operations.

Background

This repatriation effort follows a security incident on Wednesday involving a Flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an altercation between the captain and copilot. The incident led to a suspension of Flydubai routes to Israel, stranding thousands of Israelis. The current repatriation flights are part of a coordinated effort by Israeli airlines and the government to bring citizens home, with additional flights expected to operate on El Al's behalf.

How outlets are covering it

The Jerusalem Post highlights the UAE's criticism of the term 'rescue flight,' emphasizing that the UAE agreed to all requests and that Israel rejected alternative protocols offered by Flydubai. Israel National News focuses on the logistical challenges and delays expected in the repatriation process, noting the Finance Ministry's allocation of funds to support the operations. Both sources agree on the number of stranded Israelis (over 10,000) and the involvement of multiple airlines, but the Jerusalem Post places greater emphasis on the diplomatic friction between Israel and the UAE, while Israel National News focuses on the operational and financial aspects of the repatriation effort.

Why it matters

The repatriation of over 10,000 stranded Israelis highlights the complex interplay between security concerns, diplomatic relations, and logistical challenges in international aviation. The incident underscores the importance of coordination between governments and airlines in managing crises, as well as the potential for diplomatic friction to impact travel and repatriation efforts. The allocation of funds by the Finance Ministry and the involvement of multiple airlines demonstrate the government's commitment to ensuring the safe return of its citizens, while the UAE's criticism of the term 'rescue flight' reflects the sensitivity of diplomatic language in such situations.

What to watch

Additional Arkia and Israir flights are expected to depart on Saturday, with the Saturday night service operating on El Al's behalf. The Transportation Ministry is continuing to work with relevant parties to enable the flights to operate as soon as possible, and Israeli citizens in Dubai are advised to remain in contact with their airlines for updates. The Finance Ministry is completing arrangements to transfer funds to ensure the flights can operate without further financial impediments. Further developments may include the resolution of the security incident involving the Flydubai aircraft and the potential resumption of regular flights between Israel and the UAE.