German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told the TV station Welt‑TV that evacuation flights for especially vulnerable people will leave Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday. Additional flights are planned for the following days.
The flights will be organised in close contact with airlines, primarily Lufthansa and Condor. “The vulnerable group includes old, ill, weak, pregnant people and children” Wadephul said, explaining that authorities will decide who can be taken on these flights.
Consular staff on the ground are working to enable more departures. He met with Emirati officials in Berlin and stressed the tight cooperation with tour operators.
The number of passengers will depend on the aircraft. “It will be a standard long‑haul airplane capable of transporting tourists over that distance” he added. Authorities also need to confirm who is actually present at the airport in Oman, as passengers must travel from the United Arab Emirates to Oman. Staff have been increased, but success also hinges on arranging land transport and coordinating closely with travel companies; some travelers may reach the airport individually.
Tourists who are not part of the vulnerable group will either be advised to stay longer or will be flown directly from the UAE to Germany. Wadephul expressed confidence that in the coming days most German tourists will be able to return home.
