More than 250 British nationals have already been evacuated from Lebanon on UK government-chartered flights. British citizens still in the country are being urged to register immediately if

they wish to leave, as commercial routes remain available.

The UK has scheduled a charter flight to depart from Beirut on Sunday, October 6, in response to escalating tensions in the region. While no further flights are currently planned due to decreased demand, the situation will be continuously monitored.

The government has been advising British nationals to leave Lebanon since October of last year due to worsening security conditions. So far, three chartered flights have successfully evacuated people, with a fourth planned for Sunday. The additional flight capacity was introduced to accommodate those who couldn’t secure seats on commercial flights, allowing over 250 people to depart in the past week alone.

As demand has now significantly dropped, Sunday’s flight is the only one scheduled at present. Any British nationals who have not yet secured a seat and wish to do so are strongly encouraged to register immediately.

Eligibility for the flight includes British nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under 18. All passengers must possess a valid travel document, while non-British dependents will need a visa for stays in the UK exceeding six months.

UK officials have been working around the clock from London, Beirut, and the region to support British nationals. A Rapid Deployment Team from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has also been dispatched to Lebanon to assist embassy officials.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

"The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, so I am glad that we have helped the many people who have heeded our advice to leave the country immediately.

With demand falling, and the security situation deteriorating, there is no guarantee other options to leave quickly will become available. I urge anyone who wants to leave to register now”. 

Sunday’s flight will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, and registered British nationals will receive instructions on how to secure a seat. The government emphasizes that people should not travel to the airport without a confirmed booking.

The FCDO continues to urge all British nationals to heed travel advice, remain vigilant, and stay updated on developments through local media in Lebanon.

The safety of British nationals remains a top priority, with approximately 700 UK troops and government officials, including Border Force staff, deployed to Cyprus for contingency planning.

The UK continues to call for a ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel, emphasizing that this would create the necessary conditions for a political resolution and allow civilians to return to their homes safely. Photo by Ian Lim, Wikimedia commons.