Australian passenger numbers for evacuation flights out of Lebanon declining
Written by admin on October 9, 2024
The government has warned that too many Australians are rejecting evacuation flights out of Lebanon.
Australians in the conflict zone are being urged to leave before it’s too late.
Flights leaving Beirut to Cyprus are only 69.4 per cent full despite 3665 Australians and their immediate family members registering with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and therefore receiving a flight offer to leave Lebanon.
Tickets have been rejected on grounds of people wanting an alternative flight date or wanting to stay in Lebanon to attend to business or family matters.
Others have remained in Lebanon after moving to the northern area of the state where they feel safer, while some have rejected the flights because they want to travel with family who don’t have visas or have concerns about accessing Beirut airport.
As of Wednesday, 1624 Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family have left Lebanon through government-assisted flights, with further flights planned for Wednesday night and this week.
Connecting flights from Larnaca, Cyprus to Australia returned 768 passengers overnight, bringing the total of returned Australians and their family members to 1117.
Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have repeatedly issued calls for Australians to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, warning the flights cannot continue indefinitely.
“Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains to please take the first flight option that is available to you,” the Prime Minister told parliament during question time on Tuesday.
“There should not be an empty seat on any of these flights. We will not be able to continue these flights indefinitely.
“Please come home when you have the opportunity. Do not wait. Do not think things might get better. Please come home and be safe.”
Senator Wong has warned that the charter flights leaving Beirut could be discontinued at any time, especially if Israel advances attacks near Beirut airport.
“Operation of the Australian government-supported charter flights is subject to the airport in Beirut remaining open and other operational constraints,” she said last week.
“Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains now is the time to leave. Please take the first flight option that is available. There is no guarantee of preferred flights or that these flights will continue.”
