The first flight took off on Thursday (12 October), with more expected in the coming days after a number of carriers – including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and Wizz Air – halted scheduled services.
Evacuees will be charged £300 – much less than the £1,000-plus reportedly demanded by carriers in the aftermath of last weekend’s atrocities. The government said its ticket price "reflects the costs of operating the flight only”.
It added: “Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for these flights. At this stage we will contact those who are eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called.
“The safety of all British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice.”
A Rapid Deployment Team has been sent to Israel to assist British citizens on the ground. “Those in Israel and the OPTs, including Gaza, are advised to register their presence with the Foreign Office,” the UK government said, adding: “The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts.”
Those eligible for flights are British nationals, including dual nationals and dependants if travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK.
MSC Cruises, meanwhile, has revised 11 East Mediterranean itineraries for MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica until 6 January. MSC Sinfonia’s future eight 11-night voyages will see the Israeli port of Haifa changed for Istanbul, which also means Rhodes will be replaced by the mainland Greek port of Piraeus and Izmir by Limassol.
MSC Musica’s future voyages from Piraeus will see Haifa replaced by Rhodes on 18 and 25 October departures and Marmaris on 1 November sailings.
