Following the cancellation of El Al’s scheduled Friday repatriation flights from the United Arab Emirates, Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir have announced they intend to proceed with their own rescue operations. The situation arose after El Al reported that its landing permits for the flights had been revoked, forcing the airline to scrap its plans to bring citizens home.

While El Al’s operations were halted, Arkia and Israir have indicated that they have successfully obtained the necessary approvals from authorities to conduct their flights. The discrepancy in the status of these flights highlights a complex regulatory environment for Israeli carriers operating in the region during this period. While El Al cited a specific revocation of its permits as the reason for its cancellation, Arkia and Israir have signaled that their paths remain clear for travel. The airlines have not provided further details regarding the specific reasons for the permit issues faced by El Al, nor have they elaborated on why their own status differs from the flagship carrier. Passengers affected by the sudden changes are currently looking to these alternative carriers to complete their travel plans back to Israel.