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 has announced. The move comes as continued Iranian strikes, in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks, have led to widespread airspace closures across the Gulf.
Cooper said the situation was “fast-moving” and that the government was prioritising the most vulnerable Britons. The charter flight will depart from Muscat, though the exact timing has yet to be confirmed. The government is also working to increase capacity for flights out of Oman.
Around 130,000 British nationals have registered their presence with the Foreign Office (FCDO) to receive updates. The FCDO has taken 2,700 calls from Britons, half of them from the UAE. Cooper said she was in close contact with counterparts across the region, including the UAE, which has provided support for departures.
British Airways will also operate a separate flight from Oman in the early hours of Thursday to bring home its own customers. The airline said it remains unable to operate flights from destinations including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv. Virgin Atlantic plans to resume some services, with a flight from Heathrow to Dubai scheduled for Tuesday night after a partial reopening of UAE airspace.
Cooper advised Britons in Oman to wait to be contacted by the FCDO. The Irish government has also chartered a flight from Oman to assist its citizens, prioritising vulnerable non-residents in the UAE.
