Source : Perth Now news
The Australian government has expressed “concern” to airlines as commercial flights from the Middle East return with rows of empty seats, as thousands of Australians remain stranded.
About 115,000 Australians became stuck in the region after conflict erupted between Iran and the US and Israel, abruptly closing the airspace.
While a handful of repatriation flights have touched down on home soil in the past several days, reuniting more than 1300 Australians with their loved ones, images surfaced on Friday of a Sydney-bound Etihad flight with rows of empty seats.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite said on Saturday that the government was “disappointed” to see a lot of commercial flights returning with seats to spare.
“Our officials in (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) have expressed that concern to the airline officials,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.
“The best available option remains commercial flights home to Australia.
“Australians in the region, if they are offered a seat on a commercial flight, should seriously consider taking that option.”
Those stuck in the United Arab Emirates have spoken glowingly of the efforts of local officials who have supplied food and accommodation to stranded Australians.
Asked why the UAE and airlines were seemingly doing more to assist Australians than their own government, Mr Thistlethwaite maintained the best option for safe passage home was a commercial flight.
“Our diplomats on the ground are working with government officials from those countries to ensure we maximise the number of Australians on those flights,” he said.
“The Prime Minister rang the head of government in the UAE to thank him for that support for Australians.”
Mr Thistlethwaite said bus transits were available between Doha and Riyadh for Australians, and stressed consular officials were working around the clock to support those still in the region.
He said the government was “exploring all options”, with 1324 Australians having already arrived home safely.
“We are also looking to consider transfers from Kuwait as well, subject to a safety assessment,” he said.
“The opportunity to return home is much better in Riyadh because there is larger openings of airspace.
“The governments in those countries are taking this situation very seriously, they are only opening airspace where it is safe to do so.”
Three flights have been scheduled to depart from Dubai direct to Australia on Saturday – two arriving in Sydney and one in Melbourne – pending further missile and drone strikes.
Airline expects ‘100 per cent return’ in days
An Emirates spokesperson said the airline anticipated a return of 100 per cent of its network in the coming days, pending airspace closures.
“Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule while working to restore full network operations,” they said.
“The airline anticipates a return to 100% of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements.
“Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.”
Emirates said it carried approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai on Friday with operations scaled up for “high demand markets” such as between the UAE and United Kingdom.
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the UAE and Yemen remain on the Smartraveller ‘do not travel’ list.
Australians are also urged to reconsider flights to Azerbaijan, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
