Singapore to mount repatriation flights on Saturday and Sunday to bring citizens home from Middle East

SINGAPORE: Singapore will operate repatriation flights out of Muscat, Oman, on Saturday (Mar 7) and Sunday as the government steps up efforts to evacuate citizens caught in the escalating Middle East conflict.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said on Thursday that about a quarter of Singaporeans who have e-registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) have sought help to return home since the conflict began.

The flights from Muscat will serve Singaporeans currently in Oman and the United Arab Emirates – countries where about 60 per cent of e-registered Singaporeans are located.

In a Facebook post on Thursday evening, MFA said that the second flight on Mar 8 was arranged "given the high demand". The ministry added that Singaporeans in UAE will be transported to Muscat via coach. 

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ms Gan said: "Our consular team and embassies have been working very hard on the ground to explore the arrangements." She added that this has involved navigating "challenging and difficult security situations" while coordinating with local authorities and airlines to secure departure options.

TICKETS PRICED AT S$600 PER SEAT

According to an email sent to a Singaporean in Abu Dhabi after e-registering with the ministry, the first flight will depart from Muscat International Airport at 10.30am local time on Saturday and arrive in Singapore at 9.20pm the same day.

Overland transport to Muscat will be provided. Passengers will be picked up the day before at 7am from two locations: the Singapore Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai.

In the email, which CNA has seen, MFA said the timings are subject to change at short notice as the situation is fluid. It added that there will be no overland transport provided for travellers in Oman.

Tickets are priced at S$600 (US$470) per seat. Cabin class will be assigned at random, but MFA said it will try to group families together.

As this will be a repatriation flight, there will be no meal differentiation between cabin classes, and only meat or non-meat options are available, the ministry added.

Luggage limit is capped at 30kg per passenger, and requests for oversized or excess baggage will not be accommodated.

Frequent flyer privileges, such as earning miles or using points to offset costs, will not apply. Pets are also not allowed on board.

"As the flight is strictly meant for Singaporeans and dependents, we are unable to accommodate travellers who are non-citizens, for example friends," MFA said.

The email included a link to e-register for the flight, with the ministry adding that submitting the form did not guarantee a seat and that flight capacity is limited.

OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

MFA has deployed crisis response teams to the region, including three officers in Muscat. Two more officers will be deployed to Riyadh in the coming days.

For Singaporeans stranded in Bahrain and Qatar, MFA will in the next few days launch assisted overland trips via bus to Riyadh, where the airport remains open and commercial flights are available.

"We will be reaching out to Singaporeans who have recently indicated to us that they would like assistance to return to Singapore," Ms Gan said.

She added that MFA is also working with airlines and local authorities to explore the feasibility of further repatriation flights, taking into account flight routes and airport reopening schedules.

Ms Gan urged Singaporeans in the Middle East region to seek shelter and heed the advice of local authorities.

She also encouraged those who have yet to e-register with MFA to do so, as this will allow the ministry to reach out to them with useful information.