Lebanese Ministry of Information
Middle East Airlines announced Friday four flights to take off Sunday in order to evacuate Lebanese expats abroad, after Cabinet approved a mechanism for their return.
According to a statement by MEA, the flights are organized “in accordance with the conditions laid down by the government.”
The Cabinet’s decision states that returnees will be tested for coronavirus upon their arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut.
Those wishing to return, and who have already registered their names at their respective embassies should consult with MEA offices to reserve their tickets and fill out a mandatory health form needed to board a flight, and send it to the Health Ministry by email.
According to the statement, four flights have been issued to Abidjan, Lagos, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
The tickets will be issued one-way, and economy class tickets cost $1800 from the two African countries, $650 and $750 from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi respectively.
“The prices of these tickets reflect their cost and do not entail any profit for MEA,” the statement said.
The prices are around four times higher than the regular price, since the plane will leave empty from Beirut and will return with half capacity, since there will be empty seats between passengers to ensure distance, in accordance to precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus.
MEA has so far published the departure time from Riyadh to Beirut Sunday morning and Lagos to Beirut Sunday afternoon.
These tickets are non-refundable and once a reservation is confirmed it cannot be cancelled, the statement said, adding that those who have previously-purchased MEA tickets cannot use them for this flight, but will later on still be valid for use.
Thousands of Lebanese nationals and residents have been stuck abroad after the government shut down the Beirut airport on March 19 as part of its lockdown measures against the spread of coronavirus.
The Daily Star
