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El Al cancelled two planned Dubai rescue flights scheduled for Friday, October 2, after approval for Israeli airlines to land in Dubai was withdrawn. The airline said in an advisory reported by the Times of Israel that it was forced to cancel rescue flights LY974-1 and LY972 at this stage, as AviationA2Z reported on October 2.
Stranded travelers in Dubai must now switch their repatriation plan away from those two El Al departures and seek seats on carriers holding current Dubai operating approval. That decision context is tied to the wider suspension behind the rescue operation, described in Flydubai Halts Tel Aviv Flights as Israel Bars Airline for 6 Days, which explains why replacement lift was arranged.
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- Status on October 2: El Al cancelled rescue flights LY974-1 and LY972 planned for Friday, October 2.
- Reason given: El Al said approval for Israeli companies to land in Dubai was cancelled, as reported by authorities in Israel.
- Recovery path: Israir said it received final Emirati approval and planned services departing during Friday, October 2.
- Who is affected: Israelis stranded in Dubai seeking repatriation to Israel, part of more than 10,000 stranded travelers reported by the Jerusalem Post.
- Next step: Stay in contact with the booked airline and follow official schedule updates before going to the airport.
El Al Cancellations Hit Friday Rescue Schedule
El Al had prepared special repatriation services to carry Israelis stranded in Dubai after regular flydubai services between Dubai and Tel Aviv were suspended. The airline said the cancellation resulted directly from the withdrawal of permission for Israeli airlines to land in Dubai. El Al added that it would continue preparations so the flights could operate once the necessary approvals are granted.
The disruption landed on a tight timeline because Israeli carriers faced added security and operational coordination before repatriation could begin. The Transportation Ministry said flights by Israeli airlines from Dubai to Israel had been agreed for Friday, but warned that security preparations could delay departures. Passengers in Dubai were advised to remain in contact with the airlines through which they booked and to follow official instructions and schedule updates.
Israir Clearance Gives Stranded Travelers Another Option
While El Al cancelled its initial flights, Israir said it had received final approval from Emirati authorities to operate flights connected to the rescue effort. News In Israel reported on October 2 that Arkia and Israir planned to operate Dubai rescue flights after El Al scrapped its scheduled Friday departures. Israir said its services would depart during Friday, giving stranded travelers another path home.
The split outcome showed that operating permission was moving airline by airline rather than as one blanket clearance for all Israeli carriers. The situation remained fluid as airlines awaited or received individual permissions. Travelers should therefore treat any single airline announcement as provisional until that airline confirms its own Dubai approval and departure time.
What Stranded Passengers Should Do Now
Passengers holding El Al rescue bookings for October 2 should not travel to Dubai International Airport on the old schedule. The two named El Al services are cancelled at this stage, and El Al said it would resume planned rescue flights once official approval to land in Dubai is restored. Keep the original booking reference, watch for rebooking messages, and confirm any new departure before leaving for the airport.
Travelers open to another carrier should check Israir and Arkia rescue announcements from October 2 and confirm seat availability directly with the operating airline. Do not assume that an El Al cancellation automatically transfers a ticket to another airline. Each carrier controls its own rescue manifest, pricing, and boarding rules, so rebooking means making a new arrangement and keeping proof of both records.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hold El Al rescue flights LY974-1 or LY972 for October 2 | Do not go to the airport on that schedule; wait for El Al rebooking once Dubai approval returns. |
| Must leave Dubai on October 2 | Check Israir and Arkia rescue departures first, then book directly with the airline holding approval. |
| Can wait a day or more | Keep the El Al booking, monitor official updates, and move only when a confirmed departure is issued. |
| Booked through another airline or agent | Contact that seller now, keep written confirmation, and follow its schedule notices. |
Why Dubai Approvals Are Moving Airline by Airline
El Al pointed to a revoked landing approval for Israeli companies in Dubai, citing information reported by authorities in Israel. That framing matters because it places the trigger with permission to land, not with aircraft readiness or crew scheduling. Israir later described a different status for its own operation, saying final Emirati approval had arrived.
Israeli authorities were working with Emirati counterparts to set a secure framework for the repatriation flights. The Transportation Ministry position tied the Friday plan to security preparations that could still shift departure times. For travelers, the practical effect is simple: each airline needs its own green light, and clearance for one carrier does not prove clearance for another.
October 2 is the first gate. Treat the two cancelled El Al rescue departures as removed from the day plan and seek a confirmed seat on an approved carrier or a later El Al departure.
Airline approval is the next gate. Book only after the operating airline confirms its own Dubai permission and departure time for the same day.
Security timing is the third gate. Even approved flights can slip, so recheck the departure status shortly before leaving for Dubai International Airport.
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Flydubai Suspension Context Behind the Rescue Flights
The rescue effort followed the suspension of regular flydubai services between Dubai and Tel Aviv. AviationA2Z reported that the operation was mounted to transport stranded Israelis after those scheduled services stopped. More than 10,000 Israelis were estimated to be stranded in Dubai and other destinations, a figure AviationA2Z attributed to the Jerusalem Post.
AviationA2Z also reported that the disruption followed a September 30 incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The report described a cockpit confrontation, an emergency diversion, and a safe landing, with passengers later moved onward by replacement aircraft. The incident remains under investigation, and travelers should rely on airline and ministry notices for departure facts rather than speculation about the cause.
Are El Al rescue flights LY974-1 and LY972 operating on October 2?
No. El Al said both October 2 rescue flights are cancelled at this stage because approval for Israeli companies to land in Dubai was withdrawn.
Can stranded travelers still fly from Dubai to Israel on October 2?
Possibly on another carrier. Israir said it received final approval and planned services departing during Friday, so check Israir and Arkia notices directly.
Will El Al run the rescue flights later?
El Al said it would resume the planned rescue flights once official approval to land in Dubai is restored and that it continues preparations.
What should passengers do about tickets and updates?
Keep the original booking, stay in contact with the airline that sold the ticket, and follow official schedule instructions before going to the airport.
