Airspace across much of the Middle East remains heavily restricted after recent missile strikes, leaving flights fully or partially grounded in several countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The disruption has prompted a large scale effort to help British nationals return home.

A government charter flight landed on Friday, while more than 4,000 people have returned to the United Kingdom on commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates, including vulnerable citizens. The government said initial charter flights would prioritise the most vulnerable, with eligibility limited to British nationals and their immediate family members.

The prime minister said British Airways would operate daily flights from Oman and that further charter services would be arranged in the coming days. A Foreign Office minister described the situation as a consular challenge on a scale not seen since the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that commercial flights remain the fastest route home for most people. Eligible passengers on government flights are required to pay for their seats.