September 25th 2024.
It's been a chaotic and tense time in Lebanon, as the country continues to operate limited flights between Beirut and Heathrow. However, these flights are currently sold out for the next week. Amidst this turmoil, British nationals have been advised to urgently leave Lebanon. But with several airlines suspending their flights, this is proving to be easier said than done.
While the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport remains open, many major airlines have cancelled their flights, leaving those who wish to leave with limited options. This situation has arisen following the explosion of thousands of rigged pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. This attack has been attributed to Israel, further escalating the already volatile situation in the region. The recent attacks by Hamas in Israel and the ensuing violence have only added to the tensions.
In response to the escalating situation, British nationals were instructed to leave the country a day after an Israeli airstrike killed 274 people in Beirut and Hezbollah launched rockets. However, with an estimated 10,000 British nationals in Lebanon, flights out of the country are limited. While the land border between Lebanon and Israel has historically been closed, the border with Syria remains open. However, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Syria.
In light of the geo-political situation, the UK government has sent around 700 troops to nearby Cyprus as a precautionary measure in case an emergency evacuation of Lebanon becomes necessary. The Akrotiri military base in Cyprus is being utilized as a staging point for potential evacuations, with RAF planes and transport helicopters on standby.
Currently, the only airline operating between Beirut and London Heathrow is MEA Middle East Airlines. Their flights to and from London appear to be departing as scheduled, according to Flightradar24. However, all their flights to London for the next week are sold out. We reached out to the airline for a comment, but no response was received at the time of writing.
Turkish Airlines, a popular choice for British travelers flying to and from Beirut via Istanbul, has temporarily suspended their flights due to safety concerns. Other major airlines such as Eurowings, Lufthansa, EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Scandinavian Airlines SAS, Air Arabia, Air France, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Flydubai, Pegasus, and Royal Jordanian have also cancelled their flights to and from Beirut temporarily.
Many are wondering about the safety of traveling to Lebanon in light of the recent events. The Israeli airstrikes have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, resulting in a high number of casualties. The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon and has updated their warning to reflect the current situation. They also advise British nationals currently in Lebanon to leave while commercial options are still available. However, seeking assistance from the UK embassy may prove difficult as consular support is limited in areas where the Foreign Office advises against travel.
The situation is also tense in Israel, with the FCDO advising against all travel to certain areas within the country, including the occupied Palestinian territories and the region bordering Lebanon and Syria. This has resulted in several airlines cancelling their flights to and from Tel Aviv, such as British Airways, Eurowings, and Virgin Atlantic.
For those traveling to Cyprus, there are currently no active warnings advising against travel to the country, which is divided into Greek and Turkish Cyprus. The Larnaca International Airport operates numerous flights each day, including daily flights to and from various UK airports.
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