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In an effort to assist Australians caught in the midst of airspace restrictions, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlewaite, announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will begin operating shuttle buses from Doha. These buses will transport stranded individuals to Riyadh, providing an exit route from the region.
Once in Riyadh, Australians will have the opportunity to secure commercial flights to leave the area. This interim measure aims to facilitate smoother transitions for those affected by the current travel disruptions.
Thistlewaite also mentioned potential plans to extend similar shuttle services from Kuwait, pending a comprehensive safety evaluation. “We are actively considering transfers from Kuwait as an additional option,” he stated.
Recognizing the fluid nature of the situation, with airspace conditions subject to rapid changes, Thistlewaite emphasized that commercial flights remain the most viable means for individuals to exit safely. “The situation is evolving swiftly, with airspace opening and closing unpredictably,” he explained. “For now, commercial flights represent the best course of action for those needing to depart.”
“The best option for people to get out is on commercial flights.
“If they are offered a seat on a commercial flight, they should seriously consider taking that option.”
Basic accommodation support in Riyadh will be provided to Australians by DFAT, Thistlewaite said.
The drive from Doha to Riyadh spans nearly 600 km and takes 6.5 hours.
A further 516 Australians returned home on four repatriation flights overnight, two of which landing in Sydney, another in Perth and one in Melbourne.
Passenger Zoe said her flight was “pretty empty”.
“It wasn’t that full and that was actually really upsetting. I feel really bad for the people who are still trying to get home,” she said.
Since the conflict started, 1324 Australians have returned home safely from the region.
The government has also extended registration for 24-hour consular support to Bahrain, Lebanon and Qatar as the conflict expands.
That’s in addition to support provided to Australians receiving consular support in Israel, Iran, the UAE and Kuwait.
The announcement comes as Emirates and Qatar Airways recommence a “reduced flight schedule” following the partial reopening of the region’s airspace.
Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) today announced the “partial resumption of air navigation” in the country.
“This phase includes the operation of a limited numer of flights designated for passenger evacuation, in addition to the operation of air cargo flights,” a QCAA spokesperson said.
Qatar Airways is coordinating a number of repatriation flights from Doha to London Heathrow, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Madrid, Rome Fiumicino and Frankfurt airports.
“Priority on these flights was given to stranded passengers with families, elderly passengers, and those with urgent medical and compassionate travel needs,” A Qatar Airways spokesperson said.
“Each flight was pre-allocated by Qatar Airways directly to such affected passengers.”
Emirates said it transported around 30,000 passengers out of Dubai yesterday and has increased services to the UK and India.
“The airline anticipates a return to 100 per cent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements,” an Emirates spokesperson said.
“Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.”
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