Slovenia races to bring home citizens stranded by Middle East airspace closures
As the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Iran's subsequent attacks on multiple countries in the Middle East continue to disrupt air traffic across several regions, hundreds of Slovenians are among the thousands of travellers from around the world unable to return home.
Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, are popular hubs for Slovenians travelling onwards to Asia, but with flights cancelled and airspace partially closed, their travel plans have unravelled, prompting emergency efforts by travel agencies and the government to organise returns.
Around 1,000 Slovenians are currently stranded due to the escalation and subsequent flight cancellations, according to the Association of Tourist Agencies, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
More than 200 are estimated to be in Dubai, while another 800 are unable to return from destinations across Asia and Oceania.
Most of those stranded individual travellers
The association's head, Mišo Mrvaljević, cautions that the figures are provisional.
"This is our approximate estimate," he told the Slovenian Press Agency.
Most of those still trying to return, about 800 people, travelled independently, often using Middle Eastern carriers, and are now attempting to get home from countries including Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Maldives. Most tourists on organised package trips have already returned.
"There are not many options for leaving a country where airspace and some land borders are closed," Mrvaljević said, noting that alternative transport is being sought for passengers outside immediate danger zones.
Govt on standby to help
According to Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon, two charter planes are expected to fly to Muscat in the coming days to bring citizens back home. Efforts are also underway to transport Slovenians from other destinations to Oman's capital in order to "bring Slovenians home to their families, their friends," he said.
Slovenia has its government jet and military transport aircraft on standby if additional evacuations are required. The government estimates that about 500 citizens are currently stranded in danger zones in the Middle East.
Travel agencies say they are maintaining round-the-clock contact with clients, coordinating with consular services and advising passengers to remain in hotels and monitor developments.
Photo: Xinhua/STA
