Qantas Offers Free Flights for Australians Fleeing Lebanon

Qantas has announced that it will provide free flights for Australian nationals fleeing the escalating military conflict in Lebanon. On October 4, 2024, the airline confirmed it will operate two non-stop flights from Cyprus to Sydney, allowing 880 Australians to safely return home. These assisted-departure flights, organized by the Australian government, will come at no cost to passengers.

The flights will be conducted using two Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Larnaca, Cyprus, on October 7, 2024, followed by the second on October 9, 2024. Qantas is calling on its pilots and cabin crew to volunteer for these flights, and the airline expects an enthusiastic response. Last year, in October 2023, over 900 Qantas staff volunteered to fill 70 positions for special assistance flights from Tel Aviv.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is managing the registration process for Australians wishing to return home. Meanwhile, Qantas is working with authorities to secure the necessary approvals for the flights. These special flights may impact some international customers currently booked on the airline’s other services. Qantas has assured passengers that they will be contacted directly and offered alternative travel arrangements, with the airline striving to minimize disruptions.

The Australian government has already arranged for 580 additional seats on flights out of Lebanon this week, but the departure of these flights depends on Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) remaining open. This development follows the Australian government’s call for its citizens to leave Lebanon as tensions in the region have risen.

With around 15,000 Australians living in Lebanon prior to the conflict, many are now seeking safe passage home. Australians who wish to depart Lebanon via Cyprus are urged to register through DFAT’s Crisis Portal for assistance. Qantas continues to work closely with the government to ensure the safety of its nationals.

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