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THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-CHARTERED flight from Oman to Dublin that had been expected to depart today has been delayed until tomorrow.
“Due to the highly challenging operational context for aviation in the region, the departure planned for this evening is now due to depart for Dublin on Saturday afternoon,” Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said in a statement.
The flight is expected to transport around 280 passengers from Muscat International Airport.
More than 18,000 Irish citizens across the Gulf have registered with the department since the US-Israel-Iran war began last weekend.
McEntee said “several hundred calls” have been made directly to citizens in the last number of days to confirm arrangements for the charter flight.
Passengers for the flight travelled to Oman this morning supported by Irish Embassy teams on the ground.
Their overnight hotel costs will be met by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) March 6, 2026
McEntee said she was aware of Irish citizens in other countries in the region who want to leave, including Qatar and Kuwait, and said the department was in direct contact with many of them to explain what options may become available.
She said she is also aware that some citizens have been stranded in other parts of the world due to flight cancellations in the Gulf.
“We would encourage these citizens to make direct contact with their airlines or travel agents with regard to identifying alternative routes and to make contact with our Consular Crisis Centre where our staff can assist in emergency circumstances.”
McEntee said she was pleased that daily commercial flights have been possible from Dubai to Dublin.
Two flights landed at Dublin Airport on Wednesday and Thursday, with a third also due to land this evening.
“For those in the region who want to leave, they should use commercial options, where possible,” she added.
There are an estimated 24,400 Irish citizens in the Gulf region, including around 12,000 in the UAE alone.
Earlier this week, McEntee expressed hope that hundreds, if not more than 1,000, would arrive in Dublin before the end of the week.
She has also defended the €800 cost of tickets for the government charter jet, saying the price is “in line with any other type of scenario like this”, and is “less than half of the cost of the overall flight per person”.
She added that children under 16 will fly for free and transport from the UAE to Muscat in Oman, where the flight will depart from, will also be free.
But, she said: “The cost will never be a reason why somebody cannot get home in this instance, and if people have an issue or concern, the consular team are dealing and engaging with them directly.”
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