Emotional scenes unfolded at Dublin Airport as a group of Irish citizens finally arrived home after being stranded in Dubai due to widespread airline disruption caused by the ongoing Iran war.
Emirates flight EK163 landed at Dublin Airport at 11pm last night, bringing 384 passengers back to Ireland. Many of those on board had been transiting through Dublin before continuing on to other destinations across Europe.
Family members gathered in the arrivals hall to welcome loved ones who had been stuck in the region for several days, describing the experience as stressful and uncertain while waiting for updates about flights.
Norita Geary from Newcastle West in Co Limerick said she was relieved to finally be back home.
"It was like being in the movies," she said.
Her sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Ronan Gleeson, were waiting with flowers and a welcome home balloon, hugging her tightly when she walked through the arrivals doors.
Most passengers had been travelling from other parts of Asia and Australia and were simply passing through Dubai when flights across the Middle East were disrupted. Many had been visiting family or on holidays, while others had been travelling for work.
Tim Riordan from Cork was greeted by his wife Rachel and their two children, two-year-old Fionn and five-year-old Olivia, who proudly held a homemade welcome sign.
Some passengers criticised what they described as a lack of communication during the disruption. Sean Gibbons from Galway said he was disappointed with the response from the Irish Embassy in the UAE, claiming more Irish citizens could have been accommodated on the flight.
Several passengers said they would continue their journeys onward to London, Birmingham, Vienna and Montenegro, as Dublin was only a transit point for them.
The six-day-old US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran has led to the closure of almost all airspace across the region, causing major disruption to international travel.
A spokesperson for Dublin Airport confirmed that another Emirates flight is scheduled to depart Dubai today.
Meanwhile, the Government has organised a charter flight for Irish citizens, which is due to depart from Muscat in Oman tomorrow.
So far, around 25,000 Irish citizens in the region have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs, with approximately 2,000 indicating that they want to leave.
The Irish Embassy in the UAE thanked those who had registered but emphasised that registration does not necessarily indicate interest in taking a charter flight.
Yesterday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said the Government was prepared to organise additional charter flights "if necessary".
It has already been confirmed that vulnerable passengers will be prioritised for seats on the charter flight.
Asked about reports that citizens may be asked to contribute €800 towards the cost of the flight, Ms McEntee said it represented a "substantially reduced charge compared to what the cost of the overall flight is".
She also confirmed that children would travel free on the charter service, which is expected to bring more than 300 people back to Ireland.
In addition, the Government will cover the cost of bus transport for passengers travelling from the UAE to Muscat.
Ms McEntee again advised Irish citizens in the region to remain sheltered where necessary and to take any commercial flights available.
"For most people in the UAE, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the quickest way home for them is to get a commercial flight," she said.
"The airlines themselves are directly going through their own passenger list, and they're trying to get as many of those who are caught in transit, those who are on holidays, on those flights and home."
It has also been agreed that citizens from Northern Ireland will be able to access assistance from both the Irish and British governments.
Meanwhile, disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and the Middle East is expected to continue for a sixth consecutive day.
Head of Media Relations at Dublin Airport operator daa, Graeme McQueen, said that 11 of the 13 flights scheduled between Dublin Airport and the Middle East today have already been cancelled.
The only two flights still scheduled are an inbound Emirates flight from Dubai expected to arrive at around 7pm, and an outbound flight to Dubai scheduled to depart at around 10pm.
He said this follows the departure of two outbound flights to Dubai yesterday and overnight, both carrying a small number of passengers, while one inbound flight from Dubai arrived late on Wednesday night carrying more than 360 passengers.
Mr McQueen said that today's cancellations bring the total number of flights cancelled since Saturday to more than 70.
"While these movements are welcome, further disruption to Middle East flights is likely in the days ahead," he said.
"As always, passengers should contact their airline directly for updates regarding the status of their flight."
Irish citizens currently in the Gulf region are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and can contact the DFAT Crisis Team on +353 (0)1 408 2000.
People from Northern Ireland who do not hold an Irish passport but wish to register with the Irish Government are also advised to contact the same number. Those who do not hold a British passport can contact the UK’s 24/7 Consular Call Centre on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
