The repatriation of Latvian citizens from the Middle East region cannot be organized immediately, as there are currently more than 800 Latvian citizens in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Latvian citizens, non-citizens of Latvia, as well as family members of citizens or non-citizens of Latvia can register for evacuation flights.
On Friday evening, two evacuation flights of the Latvian national airline airBaltic departed from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to Riga. A third repatriation flight from Dubai to Riga is planned by airBaltic for Saturday evening.
Three planes can accommodate less than 500 passengers. It is clear that 800 Latvians, some of whom have foreign relatives, cannot fit into three planes. Why not send three or four more? There are difficulties.
In cooperation with the member states of the European Union, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for evacuation opportunities for those citizens who are in other countries in the region – in Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
The airspace over the Middle Eastern countries, except for Oman, Jordan, and periodically Saudi Arabia, remains closed.
Currently, a limited number of flights are allowed at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports, and the flight schedule may be adjusted.
The processing of previously received applications for repatriation flights from Dubai is ongoing. All applications are being reviewed, and passengers who will be offered a seat on the flight will be contacted individually and provided with further instructions. Passengers who have not yet applied for a flight need to fill out a registration form.
