Evacuation flights for people who need special protection from Muscat, Oman are scheduled to depart on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) told the TV station Welt‑TV on Tuesday. Additional flights are expected in the coming days.
“We are in close contact with various airlines, mainly Lufthansa and Condor here in Germany” the minister said. “The so‑called “vulnerable group” includes elderly people, the ill, the weak, pregnant women, children; we must decide who can be taken with us”.
Consular officials are already working on arranging more flights. “I also met with our Emirati colleagues here in Berlin today and discussed the arrangements; we’re working very closely with all travel organisers” Wadephul added.
The number of passengers that can be taken will depend on the aircraft. “It will be a typical sized aircraft that can carry tourists over longer distances”. He also noted that it must be checked who will actually be at the departure airport: “They must leave the UAE for Oman. We’ve increased our staff, but it also depends on who can arrange road transport, who can get a vehicle. We rely on tight cooperation with travel agencies. Some may travel individually”.
Tourists who do not belong to the vulnerable group will either need to stay longer or be offered alternate arrangements; “they may be able to fly directly from the UAE to Germany” Wadephul said. “I’m optimistic that in the next few days we will make progress and that most German tourists can finally return to Germany”.