Finnair is examining options to enable the return of its passengers who are stranded in the Middle East.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recommended that European airlines avoid flying through the airspace of Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia.
Because some airlines are still operating flights to Muscat, Oman, Finnair says this is one of the options it will consider if the situation improves. Travelers can access Muscat from Dubai by land. In coordination with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Finnair is examining whether it can support ground transportation and border crossings. According to media reports, there are occasional traffic jams at the Omani border, and in some cases crossing is not possible.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jaakko Schildt commented, “We recognize that the situation is extremely difficult for our customers and their families, and we are continuously working to find solutions to evacuate our customers from unsafe areas.”
Finnair has already announced that it will cancel its Helsinki–Doha and Helsinki–Dubai routes until March 28.
British Airways, which continues to operate flights to Muscat, states that all flights departing from Muscat are fully booked until March 7.
