The UK government will charter a flight from Oman in the coming days to evacuate British nationals stranded in the region, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced. The move prioritises vulnerable citizens as Iran continues strikes, leading to widespread airspace closures.
Cooper said the situation was "fast-moving" after Iran retaliated for US-Israeli attacks. Most scheduled flights to and from the Gulf remain cancelled until Thursday, though Virgin Atlantic planned to operate its overnight Heathrow-Dubai service on Tuesday after a partial reopening of UAE airspace.
British Airways will also operate a separate flight from Oman early on Thursday to bring home its customers. The government charter flight's departure time from Muscat is yet to be confirmed, but Cooper said officials are working to increase capacity out of Oman.
Some 130,000 British nationals have registered with the Foreign Office. The FCDO has taken 2,700 calls, half from the UAE. Cooper said she is in close contact with regional counterparts, praising UAE support for departures as they become viable.
BA does not normally fly direct from Muscat but will operate a 2:30am local time flight on 5 March for its customers now in Oman, with scheduled flights on 6 and 7 March. The airline advised those in the UAE not to travel to Muscat by road.
Downing Street said contingency plans are being worked on with commercial airlines. The Irish government also announced it is chartering a flight from Oman to assist its citizens, prioritising vulnerable non-residents in the UAE.
