Israeli airlines are preparing special rescue flights to bring home thousands of travellers stranded in the United Arab Emirates. The move follows FlyDubai’s suspension of all services to Tel Aviv after a cockpit attack on flight FZ1073 on September 30.

Israir and Arkia said on Friday that they had obtained permission to land in Dubai. Arkia planned one flight to Dubai on Friday and another on Saturday. El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, said its Dubai landing slots were suddenly revoked and it was working to secure permissions for Saturday night.

The flights will operate one way, from the UAE to Ben Gurion Airport. Aircraft will fly empty from Tel Aviv to Dubai and return full. Israel’s Transport Ministry has coordinated the operation, and the government has agreed to compensate airlines for the empty outbound legs.

Priority is going to passengers whose FlyDubai tickets were cancelled. Thousands of Israelis are estimated to have remained in Dubai since the attack. Regular commercial services between the two countries remain suspended while the investigation into the attempted cockpit attack continues.