Emirates announced on Thursday that it will be suspending its services to Israel, citing “operational challenges.” The airline has been operating direct flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv since 2020. However, it will now be rerouting passengers through third-party hubs.
Emirates Airlines has decided to stop flying to and from Tel Aviv until they provide further notice, as per their announcement on Wednesday. This decision is a response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The airline is closely keeping track of the situation and is in constant communication with relevant authorities.
Passengers with connecting flights to Tel Aviv on Emirates will not be allowed to travel from their point of origin until there is an update from the airline. Initially canceled on October 12 due to safety concerns amid the Israel-Hamas conflict starting on October 7, the Emirates extended the suspension several times, with the latest extension until November 30. This marks the first time that the airline has indefinitely suspended operations in Tel Aviv.
For those affected by the flight suspension, Emirates advises reaching out to their booking agents for alternatives, refunds, cancellations, or to rebook their flight itineraries.
Aftermath
The decision comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, and it is unclear whether it will be temporary or permanent. Emirates did not provide any further details about the reasons for the suspension, but it said that it would continue to “assess the situation and explore opportunities to resume operations when the circumstances are appropriate.”
This is not the first time that Emirates has suspended its services to Israel. In 2019, the airline temporarily halted flights after a rocket attack from Gaza damaged the runway at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport.
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The decision comes as the conflict has resulted in the death of more than 14,100 Palestinians, including 5,800 children and 3,900 women, since it began on October 7. The total death toll is 33,000 people.
Emirates is advising affected passengers to get in touch with their booking agents for other options, refunds, cancellations, or to change their flight plans. The airline used to operate three flights daily to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.