iscover
An Emirates repatriation flight has joined others in flying home stranded Australians from Cyprus after they were evacuated from Lebanon.
Flight EK2536 left Larnaca for Dubai at 4:05pm local time on Monday, touching down at 9pm local time. Passengers were then able to board flight EK2616, which left Dubai for Sydney at around 11pm with an expected arrival of 7:40pm AEDT on Tuesday. Both flights used the 777-300ER A6-EGF.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
According to Emirates, more than 200 Australians and their family members were able to access the repatriation services.
“Emirates stands ready to help impacted Australians return home, through our regularly scheduled services between Dubai and Australia, as well as the deployment of additional repatriation flights as needed,” the airline said in a statement.
“Emirates has been in detailed discussions with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), other Australian government contacts, and Qantas, to co-ordinate logistics and ground operations, including supporting connecting flights from Sydney to other Australian cities.
“Emirates remains committed to supporting Australia, a community that we have been proud to serve and be a part of for close to three decades.”
The move to repatriate Australians follows a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, with the Israeli military firing rockets into Lebanon last month before moving in troops as part of its action against terrorist group Hezbollah.
Currently, Australians and permanent residents in the war-torn country are being flown first to Larnaca, Cyprus, a 40-minute flight away, before being taken to Sydney. A RAAF C-130J Hercules and C-17 Globemaster are also assisting with efforts.
Both Qantas and Qatar Airways have stepped in to help, with Qantas flying non-stop from Larnaca to Sydney on 787-9 Dreamliners while Qatar has flown via Doha on 777-300ERs.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said last week that the government’s message to those still in Lebanon is to leave.
“We’ve got about 3,600 Australians who have now registered with our embassy in Beirut, expressing a desire to have some form of assisted departure, and we will continue to work with them and to provide those opportunities to leave, but people simply have to take those opportunities as they are provided,” he said.
Australians in the region seeking Australian government support should register via DFAT’s Crisis Portal or by calling the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide updates to registered Australians.
