Flydubai Flight Suspension Leaves Israeli Passengers Facing High Ticket Costs

The suspension of flydubai flights to and from Israel has forced stranded passengers to seek alternatives to get home. The airline announced that the suspension will be reassessed based on the progress of the ongoing investigation, with no official date set for the resumption of operations. For travelers seeking direct flights from Thailand, ticket prices can soar to thousands of dollars for a single trip.

According to a pricing check conducted on Thursday, an Arkia economy class ticket from Bangkok to Tel Aviv for October 5 was priced at $1,999, while business class reached $4,100. A flight scheduled for October 3 offered economy tickets at $1,750.

Lower rates were displayed for certain later dates during the month: flights on October 12 and 17 were priced at $1,699 for economy and $2,200 for business class.

In response to media inquiries, Arkia clarified that this is an additional scheduled flight rather than a rescue operation. "To operate this flight, the aircraft flies to Bangkok empty, with no external entity covering the cost of the empty leg," the company explained. Arkia estimated the cost of operating the flight at approximately half a million dollars, noting rising jet fuel prices as an added burden on expenses.

This follows an incident where a flydubai flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, due to a violent altercation in the cockpit. Passengers were later flown to Israel on an alternative aircraft, and the circumstances are currently under investigation. Following the incident, the airline suspended its operations on the Israeli route.

Meanwhile, Arkia announced preparations to resume direct flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai, planning two daily flights pending final preparations and approval from state and security authorities.