Irish Government's Chartered Flight from Oman Delayed Until Saturday
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has announced that a chartered flight intended to bring stranded and vulnerable Irish citizens home from the Middle East has been delayed until Saturday. The flight, originally scheduled for Friday, will now depart from Oman on Saturday afternoon due to what Ms McEntee described as a "highly challenging operational context" for aviation in the region.
Costs and Passenger Details
The chartered flight, which reportedly costs 800 euros per seat, is set to transport approximately 300 individuals, including children and people with medical needs. Ms McEntee confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs will cover the overnight hotel costs for passengers in Oman while they await the rescheduled departure.
In a statement issued on Friday, Ms McEntee emphasised that "intensive" efforts to repatriate Irish citizens from the Middle East are ongoing. She also welcomed the gradual return to commercial air travel and urged citizens to utilise these options when available.
Background and Context
This development follows two Emirates flights that have already transported hundreds of Irish citizens from Dubai to Dublin this week, with a third flight expected to arrive in Dublin on Friday night. The Irish Government's chartered flight is part of a broader assisted departure initiative.
Ms McEntee noted that several hundred calls were made directly to citizens in recent days to confirm arrangements for the flight from Oman. Passengers travelled to Oman this morning with support from embassy teams on the ground.
Wider Regional Situation
The minister acknowledged that there are Irish citizens in other countries across the region, such as Qatar and Kuwait, who wish to leave. She stated that the government is in direct contact with many of these individuals to explain potential options as they become available.
Additionally, Ms McEntee addressed concerns about citizens stranded in other parts of the world due to flight cancellations in the Gulf. She encouraged these individuals to contact their airlines or travel agents to identify alternative routes and to reach out to the Consular Crisis Centre for emergency assistance.
Commercial Flight Updates
Emirates announced on Friday that it will operate a reduced flight schedule but expects to return to "100% of its network within the coming days." The airline emphasised that safety remains paramount, noting that 30,000 people have been flown out of Dubai recently.
The Irish Government anticipates "further direct commercial options" in the coming days. Some Irish citizens have already managed to secure indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai via London or Paris.
Statistics and Regional Presence
Approximately 24,000 Irish citizens across the Middle East have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 14,000 Irish people reside in Dubai, with 2,000 in Abu Dhabi, and over 2,000 each in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Since Saturday, the consular crisis team has responded to more than 2,300 queries. Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Neale Richmond, highlighted on Thursday that many Irish citizens permanently living in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and elsewhere have "no desire" to return to Ireland.
European Coordination
Most chartered flights from European governments are departing from Muscat in Oman. Mr Richmond mentioned that flights from Italy and Germany have already landed, with British authorities also initiating flights. He emphasised that Ireland is working in concert with European partners to facilitate these repatriation efforts.
