The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has chartered a repatriation flight from Muscat International Airport in Oman, scheduled to depart Wednesday night at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT), to assist British nationals seeking to abandon the Middle East. The flight prioritizes vulnerable individuals, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office.
The move comes amid escalating regional tensions and widespread disruption to air travel following strikes in Iran and retaliatory attacks targeting American military bases and infrastructure in neighboring Arab countries. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, leaving many British citizens stranded.
British nationals and their immediate family – spouses or partners and children under 18 – are eligible for the flight. The Foreign Office is directly contacting individuals to secure seats and has urged those not contacted to refrain from traveling to the airport. Dependents who are not British nationals will require valid travel documentation, such as a visa or permission to remain in the UK for more than six months, to be eligible.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper informed Members of Parliament that approximately 130,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the Middle East through the Foreign Office’s “Register Your Presence Programme.” Cooper emphasized the program’s importance in enabling the Foreign Office to provide updates and assistance. She also noted ongoing collaboration with regional counterparts, including the United Arab Emirates, to secure additional departure routes.
The Foreign Office is working with airlines to increase capacity out of Muscat and will continue to explore options for further repatriation efforts. British nationals previously registered in the UAE but currently in Oman are being asked to complete a form to express their interest in a seat on the charter flight.
The first British citizens able to leave the Middle East following the recent outbreak of conflict have already returned to the UK, though details regarding their departure route were not immediately available. The Foreign Office stated it would continue to perform “24/7” to support British nationals in the region.
