Sir Keir Starmer has declared that the Government is actively exploring every available avenue to assist British citizens caught in the escalating Middle East conflict, as a limited number of flights have begun departing from Abu Dhabi. The Prime Minister emphasised that the situation on the ground may persist as challenging for an extended period, but assured that comprehensive support measures are being implemented.
Limited Flight Operations Amid Airspace Closures
Etihad Airways flight EY67, destined for London's Heathrow Airport and likely transporting stranded UK nationals, successfully departed from the United Arab Emirates capital on Monday. This flight was scheduled to land at Terminal 4 of the west London airport at 7.14pm. However, vast regions of airspace across the Middle East remain shut down due to the intensifying hostilities between Iran and US-Israeli forces, severely disrupting commercial aviation.
Government Support and Rapid Deployment Teams
Addressing the House of Commons, Sir Keir Starmer outlined the Government's multifaceted response. "We're asking all British citizens in the region to register their presence so we can provide the best possible support and to monitor the Home Office travel advice, which is being regularly updated," he stated. The Prime Minister confirmed that rapid deployment teams are being dispatched to the region to offer on-the-ground assistance to British nationals.
He further elaborated, "We're in close contact with the travel industry and governments in the region, including with our friends in the UAE, given the concentration of British nationals in that country, and we're looking at all options to support our people. We want to ensure that they can return home as swiftly and safely as possible." Consular support is available through open Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office phone lines, with ministers ready to meet MPs regarding individual cases.
Flight Disruptions and Airline Responses
Approximately fifteen Etihad Airways flights departed from Abu Dhabi within a three-hour window on Monday. Flight tracking company Flightradar24 indicated these flights were "likely helping to clear transit passengers who have been stuck there since the start of the conflict." Despite these limited operations, Etihad Airways has maintained that all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Wednesday, March 4. The airline has advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless directly contacted and instructed to do so.
In Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office announced that airlines Emirates and Flydubai would commence operating a restricted number of flights, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. Meanwhile, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have cancelled multiple flights to the Middle East, with Virgin Atlantic axing two Heathrow-bound flights from Dubai and Riyadh. EasyJet and British Airways have also cancelled some flights to Cyprus following a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.
Registration and Travel Advisory Updates
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that 102,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region, out of an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries targeted by Iran. British nationals are strongly advised to adhere to local authority instructions and continuously monitor the Foreign Office's travel advice, which officials anticipate will change rapidly. Those in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE are urged to register their presence online with the Foreign Office.
The airspace closures have led to significant flight cancellations. Analytics company Cirium reported that 49 out of 144 scheduled flights from the UK to the region on Monday were cancelled. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, cautioned passengers, "Several airlines have now cancelled some flights to Cyprus due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. Passengers due to travel must be offered the choice of a refund or rerouting on airlines that are still flying." He emphasised the importance of not cancelling bookings independently to avoid forfeiting refund eligibility.
