Ticket costs soar 1,000 per cent for Brits attempting to to flee Lebanon
Airline tickets out of Lebanon have soared by over 1000 per cent as British nationals face cancelled flights as they attempt to follow the Prime Minister’s advice to leave the war torn nation.
Keir Starmer has urged all Britons to leave Lebanon immediately as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalates.
However, many of the around 6,000 Brits that are currently in Lebanon are having issues leaving the Middle Eastern nation with flights cancelled or booked up for a week.
Meanwhile, prices have also soared with flights out of Beirut costing over £1000. Just four days ago flights to London cost £102before Israel started launching airstrikes against Hezbollah.
This has led some Brits to take drastic measures to get out – with Masters student Isabella Baker deciding to board a boat to Turkey to escape the conflict.
Some Brits are taking drastic measures to get out – with Masters student Isabella Baker (pictured) deciding to board a boat to Turkey to escape the conflict
Speaking to the BBC, Emma Bartholomew (pictured) said she plans to leave Beirut on a flight home to London next week
Beirut Airport (stock image). Many of the around 6,000 Brits that are currently in Lebanon are having issues leaving the Middle Eastern nations with flights cancelled or booked up for a week. Meanwhile, prices have also soared with flights out of Beirut costing over £1000
The student said she is too scared to venture to Beirut airport, which is the nation’s only commercial airport, and will instead head to Tripoli in northern Lebanon to catch the boat.
Other Brits in Beirut are waiting for flights out of the country at a later date.
Speaking to the BBC, Emma Bartholomew said she plans to leave Beirut on a flight home to London next week.
She said that the conflict has led to gridlock on the street’s of the capital as thousands of Lebanese refugees piled into Beirut to escape Israeli bombardments in the south.
Freelance journalist Chloe Lewin said: ‘My friends were meant to leave this morning on Egyptair – that got cancelled, so they can’t get out. ‘
The 24-year-old has now booked a flight for Friday.
Speaking to Sky News last night, Ms Lewin said: ‘I haven’t seen Beirut like I have since Monday as people left instantly to head to the mountains. The streets are empty now and it feels tense and anxious.’
Also attempting to flee is Mahasan al-Dada from Manchester and her two young sons – aged five and six – however the family cannot get a flight for almost two weeks.
Freelance journalist Chloe Lewin (pictured) said: ‘My friends were meant to leave this morning on Egyptair – that got cancelled, so they can’t get out. ‘ The 24-year-old has now booked a flight for Friday
Also attempting to flee is Mahasan al-Dada (pictured) from Manchester and her two young sons – aged five and six – however the family cannot get a flight for almost two weeks
Vehicles wait in traffic in the town of Damour, south of Beirut as people flee southern Lebanon. The conflict has led to gridlock on the street’s of the capital as thousands of Lebanese refugees piled into Beirut to escape Israeli bombardments in the south
She told Sky News: ‘I’ve been trying all day to find tickets and there’s no commercial flights. Everything has gone. Middle East (Airlines) is still flying, but the earliest flight is 8 October, and the tickets have gone up to £2,000. It’s crazy.’
Ms al-Dada moved to Lebanon in July to be with her husband but says she has been on the brink of a panic attack while spending restless nights fearing their home could be targeted.
She added: ‘It was really scary, it was something I’ve never been through before until now. It’s really surreal, it feels like I’m awake but I’m dreaming.’
The government would not go into any details at this stage about their evacuation plans but the Foreign Office is now advising against all travel to Lebanon.
An additional 700 military personnel have been sent to British bases in Cyprus in case an emergency evacuation is required.
However, some citizens have been critical of the government’s response so far.
Ms Baker said: ‘The government should be doing a lot more. Of course it has to worry about its citizens I understand that there are priorities.
Tensions across the region have been growing since October 7 last year when Hamas launched an attack on Israel where 1,200 people died.
After the terrorist attack, Israel launched a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip and sporadic fighting between Hezbollah started shortly afterwards.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike near the village of Khiam, Lebanon, Sept 25. Since Monday Israel has launched a number of airstrikes in to Lebanon killing 569 people according to the Lebanese government
Last week, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah – which the UK recognises as a terror group – escalated when Israel sent off explosives hidden in the group’s communication devices.
Since Monday Israel has launched a number of airstrikes in to Lebanon killing 569 people according to the Lebanese government.
The UK joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is ‘intolerable’ and could plunge the Middle East into chaos.
In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire ‘to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement’, as well as a ceasefire in Gaza.
The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: ‘Hell is breaking loose.’
