Flydubai Cancels Ten Flights and Delays Hundreds across UAE, Israel, Iran and more, Affecting Passengers in Dubai, Tel Aviv, Shiraz, All You Need to Know

Published on November 21, 2025

Flydubai battles a surge of significant operational disruptions. The carrier had officially canceled ten flights and delayed hundreds more, creating unexpected travel chaos on 20th November, 2025. This widespread instability directly impacts flight networks across the UAE, Israel, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Ethiopia. Consequently, passengers starting their journeys in Dubai now face frustrating hurdles and uncertain departure times. Furthermore, the schedule collapse severely affects key connections in Tel Aviv and Shiraz. Moreover, the operational strain extends to Damascus and Istanbul, where the airline struggles to maintain its published timetable. Travelers in Addis Ababa also face similar inconveniences due to these logistical bottlenecks. There’s a total of 214 delays and 10 cancellations reported. This article examines the specific data behind the delays and offers guidance for affected passengers navigating this regional travel disruption.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

Specific flight numbers and schedules have been identified in the list of cancellations. The disruptions are concentrated on routes connecting Dubai with major regional capitals. The affected schedule includes:

• FDB1635: Operated by a B738 aircraft from Dubai Int’l (DXB) to Ben Gurion Int’l (TLV), scheduled for Thursday at 11:05 AM +04.
• FDB241: Operated by a B738 aircraft from Dubai Int’l (DXB) to Shiraz Int’l (SYZ), scheduled for Thursday at 11:10 AM +04.
• FDB1113: Operated by a B38M aircraft from Dubai Int’l (DXB) to Damascus Int’l (DAM), scheduled for Thursday at 01:35 PM +04.
• FDB727: Operated by a B738 aircraft from Dubai Int’l (DXB) to Istanbul Airport (IST), scheduled for Thursday at 01:40 PM +04.
• FDB242: A return service from Shiraz Int’l (SYZ) to Dubai Int’l (DXB), scheduled for 01:10 PM +0330.
• FDB1636: A return service from Ben Gurion Int’l (TLV) to Dubai Int’l (DXB), scheduled for 02:00 PM IST.
• FDB647: Operated by a B38M aircraft from Dubai Int’l (DXB) to Bole Int’l (ADD), scheduled for 04:05 PM +04.
• FDB1114: A return service from Damascus Int’l (DAM) to Dubai Int’l (DXB), scheduled for 05:10 PM +03.
• FDB728: A return service from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Dubai Int’l (DXB), scheduled for 06:50 PM +03.
• FDB648: A return service from Bole Int’l (ADD) to Dubai Int’l (DXB), scheduled for 08:50 PM EAT.

The operational strain is being felt most acutely on bi-directional sectors connecting the UAE with its regional neighbors. The data highlights that the disruptions are not isolated to a single corridor but are spread across diverse geographic zones. Routes between Dubai and Israel (Tel Aviv), Dubai and Iran (Shiraz), Dubai and Syria (Damascus), Dubai and Turkey (Istanbul) and Dubai and Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) have all been cited in the list of affected services. These sectors represent critical arteries for both business and leisure traffic, linking the Gulf hub to the Levant, Persia, Anatolia and the Horn of Africa.

Delays

While the cancellation of 10 flights represents a complete cessation of service for those specific sectors, the broader operational picture is dominated by delays. A total of 214 delays have been logged, resulting in a significant delay percentage of 57%. This statistic suggests that more than half of the scheduled operations during the monitoring period were unable to adhere to their published timetables. For passengers traveling with Flydubai, this high frequency of delays implies that connecting itineraries through Dubai could be jeopardized, necessitating adjustments to onward travel plans.

Affected Airports

The ripple effect of these schedule changes is being felt at six major international airports. In the UAE, operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB / OMDB) are the focal point of the disruptions. Outside the Emirates, the impact is distributed across:

• Israel: Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV / LLBG) in Tel Aviv.
• Iran: Shiraz Shahid Dastghaib International Airport (SYZ / OISS) in Shiraz.
• Syria: Damascus International Airport (DAM / OSDI) in Damascus.
• Turkey: Istanbul Airport (IST / LTFM) in Istanbul.
• Ethiopia: Bole International Airport (ADD / HAAB) in Addis Ababa.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The suspension and delay of flights into these key cultural and economic centers might have immediate repercussions for local tourism and transit commerce.

• Dubai, UAE: As the primary hub, delays here can cause congestion in transit terminals, affecting duty-free revenue and hotel occupancy rates for layover passengers.
• Istanbul, Turkey: Disruptions to flights from the UAE can impact the steady flow of tourists visiting historical sites, potentially reducing short-term footfall in Sultanahmet and Taksim areas.
• Tel Aviv, Israel: Business travel and religious tourism often rely on the punctual arrival of flights; delays may force the rescheduling of corporate meetings and guided tours.
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: As a major gateway to Africa, delays at Bole International can disrupt safari connections and trade visits, slowing the movement of international visitors into the wider region.
• Shiraz, Iran and Damascus, Syria: These cities rely on specific regional connections for visiting families and cultural pilgrims; cancellations here can result in significant personal inconvenience and a temporary dip in visitor numbers.

What Affected Passengers Can Do

Passengers in a situation like this, are advised to take immediate steps to mitigate the impact of these disruptions.

1. Check Flight Status: Before proceeding to the airport, the status of the flight should be verified through the official Flydubai website or mobile app.
2. Contact the Airline: For confirmed cancellations (such as FDB1635 or FDB1113), rebooking options or refund requests should be initiated via the airline’s customer service channels.
3. Review Travel Insurance: Policies should be checked to see if coverage is provided for travel delays or cancellations, particularly for incidental expenses like meals or accommodation.
4. Arrive Prepared: For those on delayed flights, carrying essential items and chargers in hand luggage is recommended, as wait times at airports in the UAE, Israel, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Ethiopia may be extended.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.