Middle East repatriation flight due to leave for Dublin after delay

James Cox

A Government-chartered repatriation flight from the Middle East is due to take off today for Dublin Airport.

It is expected to carry around 280 passengers - including Irish people who are non-resident and require urgent assistance.

The flight from Oman was originally due to leave on Friday night but was delayed due to what's been described as "highly challenging operational reasons".

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs an intensive consular support operation is ongoing for citizens across the Gulf and elsewhere who have been impacted by the current conflict.

More than 18,000 citizens across the Gulf have registered with the department since last weekend.

It confirmed that several hundred calls were made directly to citizens in the last number of days to confirm arrangements for an assisted departure flight from Oman.

Passengers for this flight travelled to Oman on Friday morning supported by our Embassy teams on the ground.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said she was aware that there are citizens in other countries across the region, including Qatar and Kuwait, who wish to leave and that her department is in direct contact with many of them.

Emirates released a statement detailing how they are operating a reduced flight schedule while working to restore its full network operations.