The primary government-chartered flight to evacuate UK residents from Oman is believed to have taken off this evening because the war in Iran continues to escalate.
Around 7pm UK time, the flight was scheduled to depart Muscat, along with eight business flights leaving the United Arab Emirates this evening.
Metro has contacted the Foreign Office to substantiate that the flight is en route.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said two further Government-chartered flights will take off from the capital of Oman, Muscat, to London Heathrow on Friday and Saturday.
The primary Government rescue flight and British Airways business flight from Muscat depart on Wednesday night.
Greater than 1,000 British nationals arrived back within the UK on business flights from the United Arab Emirates as of Tuesday.
Eight more UK flights are scheduled to depart the UAE today. Still, there is just not expected to be a widespread evacuation of the 130,000 British nationals who’ve registered within the Middle East.
Some business flights are operating from Dubai and Abu Dhabi within the UAE, but most are cancelled due to airspace restrictions brought on by the conflict between Iran and the US.
British Airways, which doesn’t normally serve Muscat, said it stays unable to operate its scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.
Muscat has emerged as a key location for people to depart the Middle East, given the Foreign Office hasn’t advised against travel into the Oman airport – unlike the present advice for airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Muscat may be reached by road from each Dubai and Abu Dhabi with journeys of about 300 miles.
The Foreign Office said: ‘There are a limited number of economic options available, including by air from the UAE and from Oman.
‘In case your presence within the UAE is just not essential, you might wish to contemplate departing – when you judge you may access these options safely.’
Oman Air has continued to operate its two each day return flights between Muscat and Heathrow despite the war.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said Muscat has ‘develop into a preferred alternative for flying out of the region’ but warned that just about all scheduled flights from Muscat are fully booked.’
It added that personal jets are being chartered to evacuate those that can afford it.
About half one million passengers per day normally use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, that are vital hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.
Experts consider it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.
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