Additional Evacuation Flights Announced for British Nationals Trapped in Middle East
British Airways has confirmed it will operate two further rescue flights from Muscat, Oman, to London Heathrow this Friday and Saturday. This announcement comes as the UK government intensifies efforts to repatriate citizens stranded across the Middle East following widespread airspace restrictions.
Government-Coordinated Repatriation Efforts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer informed Parliament that two additional Government-chartered flights will depart from Oman "in the coming days". This follows the first Government rescue flight and a British Airways commercial service that both departed Muscat on Wednesday evening. All three British Airways flights are currently fully booked, with the airline stating it will "continue to review the situation and if we are able to, we will add additional services."
Sir Keir revealed that more than 1,000 British nationals successfully returned to the UK on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday alone. A further eight UK-bound flights were scheduled to depart from the UAE on Wednesday.
Widespread Flight Cancellations Across Region
The aviation landscape across the Middle East remains severely disrupted. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 23 out of 33 planned flights from the UAE to the UK on Wednesday were cancelled. The situation is even more dire elsewhere: all 17 flights from Qatar to the UK were axed, alongside all three from Bahrain and both from Kuwait.
British Airways, which does not typically serve Muscat, confirmed it remains unable to operate scheduled services from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv due to ongoing airspace restrictions resulting from regional conflict.
Muscat Emerges as Critical Evacuation Hub
Oman's capital has unexpectedly become a vital departure point for those seeking to leave the region. Unlike airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, the UK Foreign Office has not issued travel advisories against visiting the area surrounding Muscat International Airport. The city is accessible by road from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with journeys of approximately 300 miles.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 noted that Muscat has "become a popular alternative for flying out of the region" but warned that "almost all scheduled flights from Muscat are fully booked." The service also reported increased chartering of private jets "to evacuate those who can afford it."
Limited Commercial Options and Travel Advice
The Foreign Office has issued updated guidance stating: "There are a limited number of commercial options available, including by air from UAE and from Oman. If your presence in UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing – if you judge you can access these options safely."
Notably, Oman Air has maintained its two daily return flights between Muscat and Heathrow despite the regional conflict. However, experts warn it could take weeks to clear the passenger backlog, given that airports in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi typically handle approximately half a million passengers daily and serve as crucial hubs connecting Europe with Asia and Australia.
The government has clarified that there are no plans for a widespread evacuation of the 138,000 British nationals who have registered their presence in the Middle East, with efforts focused on facilitating commercial departures where possible.
