Return to Israel via Larnaca. Suspended Flydubai flights change travel plans.

Returning to Israel via Larnaca is becoming an alternative for passengers affected by the suspension of Flydubai's Dubai-Tel Aviv service. The airport has direct connections to Dubai and numerous flights to Israel. Paphos can serve as a backup, but there is no direct connection to Dubai.

According to estimates cited by Politis, the problem could affect more than 10,000 Israeli travelers staying in the UAE or planning to return via Dubai. However, no data has been released confirming that most of them have already passed through Cypriot airports.

Return to Israel via Larnaca

The biggest advantage of Larnaca is the possibility of combining two stages of the journey: arrival from Dubai and onward flight to Tel Aviv.

According to Politis, on Friday, October 2nd, two flights from Dubai to the island were operated by Emirates and Cyprus Airways. The regular schedule cited in the report included a total of 14 weekly flights on this route.

On the same day, 15 direct flights were scheduled from Larnaca to Tel Aviv, with seven carriers operating. This is a schedule specific to a specific day, and does not guarantee an identical number of flights on subsequent days.

The number of connections indicates why Larnaca is being considered as a transfer point. However, it does not indicate how many seats are left or how many passengers actually use this option.

Why were calls suspended?

Flydubai suspended flights to Israel following a serious incident on board a plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

According to Reuters, the co-pilot attacked the captain and allegedly attempted to cause a crash. Passengers and crew members intervened. The plane ultimately landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

Emirates also confirmed the suspension of services to and from Tel Aviv sold through its Flydubai partnership until further notice. The airline advises that passengers with Tel Aviv as their final destination will not be accepted for carriage at the departure airport of such journey.

Thousands of people have to change their route

According to travel industry estimates cited by Politis, each day of suspension will result in approximately 1,700 additional travelers being deprived of their scheduled flights. Flydubai previously operated eight to 10 flights daily to Tel Aviv.

Problems also affect those returning from other countries via Dubai. Losing the final leg of their journey means having to find an alternative route home.

EL AL had planned two direct flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv for Friday, October 2. However, according to Politis, these were canceled due to difficulties in obtaining the required permits from UAE authorities.

Changing your ticket does not mean that the entire trip is free of charge.

Politis describes the possibility of Emirates re-routing passengers who have not yet reached Dubai. He mentions European cities Athens and Larnaca as alternative destinations.

According to this material, however, an onward ticket to Israel must be purchased separately. Therefore, it should not be assumed that the redirection will automatically include the final leg.

Emirates' official advisory recommends contacting your travel agent or carrier's contact center. Change conditions for a specific booking must be confirmed before purchasing further tickets.

Paphos has a smaller role

Friday's Paphos schedule included four direct flights to Tel Aviv, operated by TUS Airways, Israir, and Arkia. The airport also offered connections to Haifa.

However, the lack of a direct route from Dubai makes Paphos a less convenient transfer point for this group of travelers. The cited material does not confirm the addition of emergency flights or the transfer of a large number of passengers affected by the flight suspension.

At this stage, the availability of connections via Larnaca is paramount. The actual volume of traffic will only be assessed once passenger data is published.

Sources: CNA/Politis, Emirates, Reuters.