Vulnerable passengers allocated seats on the Government’s chartered flight from Oman will be required to pay €800.
A limited number of flights are now leaving Dubai following major travel disruption caused by the Israeli-US attack on Iran and the retaliatory strikes on the UAE. The first direct flight from the UAE to Ireland since the conflict began is expected to land tonight at 10pm with around 400 passengers, with another flight due tomorrow, reports The Mirror,
Minister McEntee said priority is being given to vulnerable passengers, including those stranded in the UAE while travelling or on holiday in the region. She added that passengers with health difficulties or who are pregnant are being prioritised for the charter flight from Oman later this week, believed to be on Friday, reports The Mirror,
There are 280 seats on the flight, with Oman being the nearest location to the UAE where the Government can operate a chartered plane. A bus has been organised to transport passengers from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Oman, taking six to eight hours, reports The Mirror,
Speaking this evening, Minister McEntee said: “We have signed a contract and agreement for a Government chartered flight that will take off later on in the week and our teams are contacting those who we feel are most vulnerable,” reports The Mirror,
The Foreign Affairs Minister encouraged those given a spot on the flight to use the payment link sent to them to pay €800, as some feared it might be a scam. She said: “If you receive a phone call from our Dublin office you will be sent a link for payment. It is a substantially reduced charge compared to the overall cost of flight,” reports The Mirror,
“We are making sure children are flying for free and the bus that will be needed to transport people will be free as well. I would encourage people if they receive the link to follow through on that link if that’s what they wish to do,” reports The Mirror,
“If there are people in significant difficulty we will support them and make sure they can get on the flight if they need to get home. Minister McEntee said the chartered jet will be “the first of many if needed,” reports The Mirror,
She continued: “This is all under review given the changing environment, the changing safety situation. I am hopeful that if this continues we will get those who want to get home as quickly as possible,” reports The Mirror,
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said all Irish citizens should be reassured that the Government is taking “appropriate and necessary action” to support them, reports The Mirror,
Asked whether the Department of Public Expenditure has allocated additional funding to the Department of Foreign Affairs for the charter flights, Minister Chambers said: “Everyone in Government wants to respond to the needs of our citizens, and the expenditure implications of a charter flight are not central to the work that the Department of Foreign Affairs is doing,” reports The Mirror.
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