Some British nationals stranded in the Middle East are due to be flown home later on Wednesday as Iranian missile and drone attacks against the Gulf continue to ground flights.
A chartered plane is scheduled to leave Muscat International Airport at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT), with the most vulnerable prioritised for a seat.
More than 130,000 Britons have registered interest in assistance to leave the region since fighting involving the US, Israel and Iran escalated on Saturday. British officials say this is the biggest travel disruption since the Covid-19 pandemic and are exploring further responses, including planning to send a warship to protect Cyprus from attacks.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the Mediterranean to bolster defences around the British base at Akrotiri after it was hit by an Iranian drone, though Treasury minister James Murray did not confirm when the vessel would depart Portsmouth.
Some British nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under 18 will be invited by the Foreign Office to board the first repatriation flight from Oman. UK nationals who have moved from places such as Dubai in the UAE to Oman ahead of the flight are being told to register their interest, though demand is expected to far exceed the capacity of the single aircraft.
The Foreign Office said it will continue to work with airlines to find more routes home and has advised against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs the safety and security of British nationals is a top priority and indicated Oman was likely to be the first departure point for repatriation.
British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE have also registered their presence. Muscat, Oman’s capital, is about a 280-mile drive from Dubai, where many British tourists and expatriates are based.
British Airways has announced it will operate one commercial flight from Muscat to London Heathrow, departing Thursday at 02:30 local time (22:30 GMT Wednesday).
