Canada has ‘limited’ seats for citizens on commercial flights during the Iran-National war
The Canadian government has secured “limited seats” on commercial flights out of Lebanon for its citizens and permanent residents, Global Affairs Canada said Wednesday, as the conflict in Iran escalates.
As of Tuesday morning, 103,800 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the Gulf region had registered with Global Affairs Canada. The actual number is likely to be higher as registration with GAC is voluntary.
While air travel in the region has been disrupted following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliation, GAC said other options for flights out of Lebanon continue to be available.
“The Canadian government has secured a few seats on commercial flights from Beirut. In addition, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism is operating buses to the Menachim Begin border crossing between Eilat and Taba, Egypt,” GAC said.
Travelers are responsible for paying their own travel expenses and making their own arrangements for accommodation, meals and any onward travel, Wednesday’s update added.
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Global Affairs Canada said it does not currently offer assisted travel to Canadians.
“We are working on a range of options to support the possible movement of Canadians from several countries in the Middle East, both by land and air, where conditions allow and it is safe to do so,” the GAC said.
Lebanon currently has the second highest number of Canadians (23,561), behind the United Arab Emirates (28,107). Iran currently has 2,958 Canadians registered with the GAC.
Canada has asked Oman to access its airspace “if necessary” to help evacuate some 100,000 Canadians from the region or provide them with assistance, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday.
Anand said the government is working “to ensure that there are opportunities for Canadians to receive support from those countries.”
He said this included Oman, which as of Wednesday morning, had “an airspace that was still operational.”
“I have asked for the use of that airspace, if necessary, for Canadian citizens to evacuate,” he said.
Oman Air warns travelers traveling across the country’s border to connect with flights departing from Muscat to arrive at the border at least 12 hours before departure time, “as traffic volumes remain high and processing times may be extended.”
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