October 11th 2024.
The federal government has announced that they will no longer be providing repatriation flights for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families from Lebanon after this week. According to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, there has been a decrease in demand for these flights.
In a social media post, Minister Wong stated that there are still seats available on flights departing between now and Sunday. However, there are no further flights scheduled after Sunday. This means that there are only two government-assisted flights left for this week, with seats still open on all six flights. Currently, there are 3018 Australians and their immediate family members registered to board these remaining flights.
Minister Wong strongly urged Australians who are currently in Lebanon to take advantage of these flights and not wait any longer. She also emphasized that the flights are subject to security conditions on the ground. This warning was also reiterated earlier this week when she stated that the flights are not guaranteed to continue indefinitely.
Since the repatriation flights began, about 2280 Australians have been brought back home. However, starting next week, those wishing to leave will have to opt for commercial flights, which can range from $1200 to $3300 per person, according to Skyscanner. The Australian government is also advising against travel to Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has caused a volatile security situation in the country.
It is important for Australians in Lebanon to register their desire to leave through DFAT's Crisis Portal or by contacting the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre. The situation in Lebanon is constantly evolving, and the Australian government will continue to monitor and provide updates as necessary.
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