A charter aircraft is due to fly some British nationals home later on Wednesday as Iranian missile and drone strikes across the Gulf keep many commercial services grounded. The flight is scheduled to depart Muscat International Airport at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT), with seats being prioritised for the most vulnerable passengers.
Since fighting involving the US, Israel and Iran intensified on Saturday, more than 130,000 Britons have registered for help to leave the region. British officials describe this as the largest travel disruption since the Covid-19 pandemic and are considering additional measures, including deploying naval assets to protect interests in the area.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the Mediterranean to strengthen defences around the RAF base at Akrotiri after an Iranian drone struck the site, although Treasury minister James Murray did not say when the ship would sail from Portsmouth.
The Foreign Office has said the first repatriation flight from Oman will invite British nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under 18 to board. UK citizens who have relocated from centres such as Dubai to Oman ahead of the operation are being asked to register their interest, but officials warn demand will far outstrip the capacity of a single plane.
The Foreign Office said it is continuing to work with airlines to open more routes and has advised against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs that the safety and security of British nationals is the government’s top priority and indicated Oman is likely to serve as the main departure hub for repatriation flights.
British nationals across Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE have logged their presence with authorities. Muscat, Oman’s capital, is roughly a 280-mile drive from Dubai, where many British tourists and expatriates are based.
In addition to the charter, British Airways has announced a commercial service from Muscat to London Heathrow, scheduled to depart at 02:30 local time on Thursday (22:30 GMT on Wednesday).