Countries around the world are racing to safely return nationals stranded by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with evacuation flights continuing amid severe disruptions to air travel. The situation remains volatile, with flight schedules likely to be disrupted for the foreseeable future.
Evacuation Efforts Underway
The first chartered evacuation flight carrying hundreds of American citizens arrived at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, on Thursday. The UK’s first evacuation charter flight from Oman landed Friday after a 24-hour delay, with more flights planned. European citizens have returned home to Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, and Slovakia via at least six flights supported by the European Commission, with additional repatriation flights expected. Australia’s foreign minister confirmed four flights have already departed the region, with four more planned within 24 hours.
The US embassy in Israel is now offering bus service to the Egyptian border for American citizens wanting to leave, departing from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to the Taba border crossing. Canadian nationals in Israel are also being bused to the Egyptian border. In Beirut, limited numbers are being evacuated by plane. New Zealand has sent two defense force planes to the region to assist with evacuations.
Aviation Situation
Thousands of international flights have been canceled daily since Sunday, according to FlightAware.com, with the chaos expected to continue. At one point, more than 20,000 travelers were stranded in key hubs in the United Arab Emirates, home to major airlines like Emirates and Etihad. Thousands more were stuck in Doha, Qatar Airways’ base.
Emirates is now operating a reduced flight schedule, while Etihad Airways has resumed a limited commercial schedule. Qatar Airways’ scheduled operations remain suspended, but it has started operating limited relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh. Israeli carrier El Al is working to repatriate customers, with its first rescue flight from Athens landing at Ben Gurion Airport. El Al will begin carrying passengers on outbound flights from Israel starting March 8, limited to 70 per flight.
Outside the region, airlines like Lufthansa have suspended flights to several destinations, with plans to resume some services on March 7. Affected travelers should check with their airline for rebooking and refund options, though wait times may be longer than usual.
Government Advisories
The US State Department has urged citizens to leave a number of Middle Eastern countries due to serious safety risks. US citizens in affected countries should fill out a crisis intake form for departure assistance. The department previously called on citizens to depart using available commercial travel from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen.
Canada has advised travelers to leave the UAE as soon as possible and avoid all travel to several countries. The UK has asked British nationals in certain countries to register for direct updates. Australia has opened an emergency portal for citizens in Israel, Iran, Qatar, and the UAE, and advised against travel to most Middle Eastern destinations.
Cruise Ship Impact
Cruise ships in the region have also been affected, with thousands of passengers and crew waiting on vessels waylaid in ports in the UAE and Qatar. TUI Cruises has canceled cruises scheduled to commence in the region, while MSC Cruises reported that seven flights carrying passengers from its vessel, the MSC Euribia, have departed the region, repatriating travelers to countries including the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, the US, and Brazil.
Travelers are advised to stay informed through official channels and airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules and evacuation options.
