flydubai. Photo: Shutterstock Transportation Minister Miri Regev, through her office's director general, during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates last week, conveyed a proposal to flydubai to significantly and immediately increase the frequency of flights to Israel, PassportNews has learned.
The move comes as an expression of appreciation from Israel to the United Arab Emirates and its President, Mohammed bin Zayed, following the continued operation of flights to Israel during the war, as well as assistance in efforts to repatriate Israelis to the country.
According to the proposal discussed, Israel is interested in significantly expanding flydubai's operations on the Tel Aviv-Dubai route, among other things by allocating slots that became vacant following the reduction or cessation of operations of foreign companies, including Turkish Airlines, Ryanair, and some of Wizz Air's slots.
Dubai. Photo: ShutterstockIsrael sees the move as a strategic opportunity to further strengthen relations with the Emirates, along with creating a significant alternative for Israeli passengers to the connectivity previously offered by Turkish Airlines, with connecting flights to the East, to the Emirates, and to many other destinations around the world.
At the same time, Israel proposed reviving activity at Ramon Airport through subsidized flights by FlyDubai to Ramon, with plans to operate free shuttles between Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon to encourage use of the southern airport and expand international activity there.
However, at this stage, this is only a proposal that has not yet been approved by the Emirati side. According to sources familiar with the matter, it was agreed that joint working teams will examine the planning of the move. Flydubai is expected to examine the economic profitability of the increased operation, alongside additional political and regional considerations.
The company currently operates five daily flights to Dubai and from there to a variety of destinations around the world in cooperation with its partner Emirates.
We would also like to remind you that the Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, Moshe Ben-Zaken, held meetings in Abu Dhabi with senior officials from AD Ports and Etihad Rail to promote transportation cooperation and the IMEC project "Railways of Peace." The focus of the talks: strengthening trade routes between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, alongside connecting Israel to the regional rail network and promoting logistics cooperation between the countries.
Recall that the company's inaugural flight was held on November 26, 2020, in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deputy CEO Jeyhun Efendi, CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith, and many other senior officials. Since then, the company from the United Arab Emirates has taken off from Ben Gurion Airport and has become one of the leading companies there.
This was the first Emirates flight to land in Israel after the signing of the Abraham Accords. Since then, Fly Dubai has never stopped flying to Israel, even during the war. Since it broke out on October 7, the company has continued to operate its flights to the country.