Full Breakdown
Israeli Government Approves Up to NIS 9 Million Aid for Airlines Returning Home from Dubai
By Drooid · · How we work
Government Approval of Airline Assistance Package
The Transportation Ministry is set to obtain cabinet approval on Tuesday for a temporary assistance mechanism that can total NIS 9 million. The measure responds to flydubai’s suspension of its Dubai-Israel service, which left thousands of Israeli travelers stranded in Dubai. Under the proposal, the state will help cover the cost of flying empty aircraft from Israel to Dubai and will fund separate cargo flights to bring passengers’ baggage back to Israel.
Funding Details and Scope
The assistance ceiling of NIS 9 million is split between two budget lines. NIS 5.5 million will be drawn from funds earmarked for implementing coalition-government agreements in 2026, reducing the related budget item from NIS 6 million to NIS 500,000. The remaining NIS 3.5 million will come from the Transportation Ministry’s own budget. The aid is limited to expenses that arise from the mandatory empty outbound leg and the separate baggage-transport operation; it does not subsidize flights that are already financially viable.
Legal and Procedural Context
Because the proposal is being considered during an election period, the government reviewed its legal permissibility. Finance and defense ministers have signed off on the plan. The Civil Aviation Authority will issue detailed procedures, set duration limits, and notify airlines of the conditions for receiving assistance.
Operational Impact and Timeline
The arrangement will stay in effect until Thursday or until flydubai resumes flights to Israel, whichever occurs first. In the interim, Israeli airlines have begun operating return flights, but security restrictions require aircraft to fly empty on the outbound leg and prevent baggage from being loaded on passenger flights. The United Arab Emirates has demanded that Israel provide a separate solution for passengers’ luggage, prompting the Ministry to coordinate with the Defense Ministry to transport baggage on cargo aircraft. Media and loved ones awaited the arrival of passengers from the flydubai rescue flight for hijacked flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026.