UAE Denies El Al Permission for Evacuation Flights

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) denied landing permission for special evacuation flights planned by Israeli airline El Al to repatriate Israeli citizens stranded in Dubai. After the required permits could not be obtained, El Al cancelled flights LY974-1 and LY972, which had been scheduled to operate on Friday, October 2.

The evacuation flights were planned to transport passengers stranded in Dubai back to Israel following Flydubai’s suspension of Dubai–Tel Aviv services. Israel’s Ministry of Transport stated that additional preparations and security coordination with the relevant UAE authorities needed to be completed before the flights could operate. UAE authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the reason the permits were denied.