Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE on Thursday, October 1, are being advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport as airlines continue to adjust schedules.
The most significant change concerns flydubai flights between Dubai and Israel, which have been suspended following an incident involving flight FZ1073 on September 30. The flight was travelling from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv when an incident occurred during the journey.
According to flydubai, the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers were safe and accounted for. The airline said it was working with the relevant authorities and would provide further information as confirmed details became available.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has also said the security incident was brought under control. Details surrounding the incident, including its cause and circumstances, remain under investigation.
Emirates suspends Tel Aviv codeshare services
Emirates has separately suspended its flydubai codeshare operations to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect and until further notice.
The airline said passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv would not be accepted for travel at their point of origin. Customers already travelling towards Tel Aviv will be accommodated and supported in completing their journeys.
The change affects flights sold under Emirates flight numbers but operated by flydubai. Emirates has advised customers with affected bookings to contact their travel agent or Emirates’ contact centre and to ensure their contact details are updated so they can receive operational notifications.
Dubai airport sees cancellations and delays
Dubai International Airport’s flight information on Thursday showed cancellations affecting a number of services, including selected Emirates, flydubai and other airline flights.
Several flydubai services were also listed as delayed, including flights serving destinations such as Almaty, Moscow, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Baku and Naples. SpiceJet and Air India Express services were among other flights listed with delays.
Not every cancellation or delay should automatically be attributed to the Israel-bound flight incident or the wider regional security situation. Airline and airport schedules can also change because of operational, technical and other factors.
Abu Dhabi flights also affected
Passengers departing from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi are also being advised to check their individual flight status.
The airport information cited by Gulf News showed delays affecting several international services, including flights to Calicut, Delhi, Charlotte, Tbilisi and Vienna.
This does not mean all flights from Abu Dhabi are disrupted. Etihad continues to publish flight availability and schedules through its booking and flight-status systems, so passengers should check the status of their specific service rather than assume that all flights are affected.
Air Arabia cancellations from UAE
Air Arabia’s flight information also showed changes affecting selected services between the UAE and Bahrain and Kuwait.
The reported cancellations included Abu Dhabi–Kuwait and Sharjah–Kuwait services, while some other Air Arabia flights were listed as not yet departed. Selected Sharjah–Bahrain services were also cancelled.
Air Arabia provides a dedicated flight-status service allowing passengers to search by flight number or route before travelling.
What UAE passengers should do
With schedules changing at short notice, passengers travelling from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah should check their operating airline’s latest flight information before heading to the airport.
For codeshare bookings, it is particularly important to check the airline actually operating the flight. Emirates has specifically advised passengers travelling on codeshare services to check the operating carrier’s website for the latest information.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled should contact the airline or their travel agent about rebooking, refunds or alternative arrangements.
The situation remains fluid, and flight schedules may change again as airlines continue to assess operational and security conditions.
What happened to the flydubai Israel flights?
flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel after an incident involving flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and all passengers were accounted for.
Has Emirates suspended Tel Aviv flights?
Emirates has suspended its flydubai-operated codeshare services to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.
Are all UAE flights cancelled?
No. Selected flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have been delayed or cancelled, but many other services remain scheduled. Passengers should check their individual flight status.
Are Dubai flights affected?
Yes. Dubai International Airport reported a number of cancellations and delays on October 1, involving several airlines and destinations.
Are Abu Dhabi flights delayed?
Some services from Zayed International Airport were listed as delayed, but this does not mean all Abu Dhabi flights are affected.
Are Air Arabia flights cancelled?
Selected Air Arabia services between the UAE and Kuwait and Bahrain were listed as cancelled or not yet departed.
What should UAE passengers do before travelling?
Passengers should check the operating airline’s website or app immediately before leaving for the airport and monitor SMS or email notifications for schedule changes.
Where can passengers check their flight status?
Passengers should use the official website or app of their operating airline. Air Arabia also provides an online flight-status service for checking individual flights.
