This morning, Matt Thistlewaite, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will commence shuttle bus services for Australians stuck in Doha. With the local airspace currently closed, these buses will transport travelers to Riyadh.

Once in Riyadh, Australians will have the opportunity to secure commercial flights to leave the region.

In coordination with the situation, Qatar Airways is organizing several repatriation flights from Doha to major European hubs, including London Heathrow, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Madrid, Rome Fiumicino, and Frankfurt airports.

A spokesperson from Qatar Airways explained, “These flights prioritize passengers who are stranded with families, elderly individuals, and those requiring urgent medical or compassionate travel. Allocation was directly managed by Qatar Airways for these affected passengers.”

Meanwhile, Emirates reported that it facilitated the travel of approximately 30,000 passengers departing from Dubai yesterday. The airline has also increased its flight services to destinations in the UK and India.

Emirates said it transported around 30,000 passengers out of Dubai yesterday and has increased services to the UK and India.

“The airline anticipates a return to 100 per cent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements,” an Emirates spokesperson said.

“Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.”

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