UK charters flight for Britons to leave Lebanon

The UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon to assist British nationals wanting to leave, the foreign secretary has said.

“The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, refering to recent escalating violence in the region.

British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible.

The flight is scheduled to leave Beirut on Wednesday.

The UK government will pay to charter the flight, which will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, but British nationals will be expected to pay a fee of £350 per seat.

British nationals and dependants will be eligible to request a space on the flight. Any non-British dependants boarding the flight will require a visa, granted for at least 6 months, to enter the UK.

Any further flights in the coming days will depend on demand and the security situation on the ground, the Foreign office said.

“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority,” Lammy said.

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