Emirates to resume some flights, El Al weighs use of private jets

Dubai-based Emirates airline got the green light from local authorities to resume a “limited number” of flights as early as Monday evening, in a sign of how airlines are preparing to restart service to the region after thousands of flight cancellations.

Separately, Israeli airline El Al said Monday that it’s considering chartering private jets to bring stranded Israeli citizens home.

The announcements mark a potential improvement after air travel ground to a halt in a large swath of the Middle East over the weekend following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes.

The attacks shut airspace over a large part of the region, stranding hundreds of thousands of customers around the world and leading to thousands of canceled flights, including those who weren’t flying to and from the area since aircraft couldn’t transit those zones. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the busiest air travel hubs in the world.

The airport authority that owns and manages airports in Dubai said a small number of flights would be permitted to operate from Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International, but advised travelers to check with their airlines.

For its part, Emirates said it will start operating a “limited number of flights” Monday night and urged customers not to go to the airport unless notified by the airline.

“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority,” it said in a post on X. “All other flights remain suspended until further notice,” it said.

El Al said it is considering operating flights on KlasJet planes from European airports to Taba, Egypt, near the southern tip of Israel or Aqaba, over the border in Jordan, for customers of the airline, but that the plan is subject to government approval.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said Monday that all commercial flights to and from the city are suspended until afternoon local time on Wednesday, though it could operating some cargo and repatriation flights “subject to strict operational and safety protocols.”