Rescue flights for Australians in Lebanon to take off on Saturday

Plans to rescue hundreds of Australians from Lebanon have been outlined by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Qantas.

Hundreds of Australians in Lebanon will be able to return home on flights out of Beirut to Cyprus then onto Sydney on a combination of charter and Qantas services.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said government-support charter flights carrying up to 500 passengers would depart Beirut Airport on Saturday for Larnaca, Cyprus.

From there Qantas would bring the passengers to Sydney on Boeing 787-9s, at no cost to the government or the eligible Australians and their immediate family members.

Senator Wong said the government was grateful to Qantas for their assistance, and was working with other airlines to confirm additional flights.

Already 41 Australians had been carried out of Lebanon on a Canadian-assisted departure flight Thursday evening, she said.

“Further flights are planned for subsequent days and will be subject to demand,” said Senator Wong.

“Operation of the Australian government-supported charter flights is subject to the airport in Beirut remaining open and other operational constraints.”

Qantas confirmed the first service would depart Larnaca on Monday evening, touching down in Sydney on Tuesday. A second non-stop service was expected to fly out on Wednesday.

“The airline is waiting to obtain the necessary approvals,” said Qantas.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is co-ordinating registration for Australians wanting to return home.”

Qantas was expecting a strong response from pilots and flight attendants after inviting expressions of interest in crewing the flights.

Around 900 cabin crew expressed interest in 70 positions on a special assistance flight operated by Qantas in October from Tel Aviv in October.

Australians wanting to leave Lebanon via Cyprus were advised to register at DFATs crisis portal.

Senator Wong said the government’s message to Australians in Lebanon remained “now is the time to leave”.

“Please take the first flight option that is available,” she said.

“There is no guarantee of preferred flights or that these flights will continue.”

Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, is not a destination Qantas normally flies to, and detailed planning was underway for the special services.

Flight radar map of the Middle East showing the area being avoided by airlines, as Qantas prepares to operate rescue flights into Cyprus. Picture: Flightradar24.com

Flight radar images of the Middle East show airlines continuing to avoid the airspace over Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, instead flying north or south of the conflict zone.

Qantas flights from London, Paris and Rome were among those taking a more northern route over the region, after previously flying straight over the top of Iraq and Iran.

The Australian Government’s 24 hour consular emergency centre could be contacted on [phone].