High prices for evacuation flights. Tourists will pay up to 2,300 euros

More European countries decide to organize evacuation flights for citizens scattered across the Middle East. However, not everyone can return for free. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send a plane to Muscat, but each passenger will have to pay 2,300 euros for a seat. According to Elina Valtonen, head of the ministry, the price reflects the sharp increase in insurance premiums related to the security situation in the region. An additional cost for travelers stranded in the United Arab Emirates will be land transport to get to Oman.

Return from Oman, but not for free

Finns who are stuck in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat because of the war in the Middle East can count on state aid, but not for free. The European country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that evacuation flights organized by the government are not free and are subject to consular reimbursement rules. According to Elina Valtonen, tour operators and airlines should bear the greatest responsibility for their customers. The government is currently in talks with national carrier Finnair about options for affected travelers.

2,300 euros per passenger

The government plane, in which a seat will cost each passenger 2,300 euros, will take off from Muscat to Helsinki this weekend. The charter can accommodate a maximum of 200 people. For now, one flight is planned, but citizens’ needs continue to be monitored. “Finnish citizens who previously notified the ministry about their trip to the United Arab Emirates received a survey regarding their interest in the flight,” writes Aviation 24.

“Finns are usually very calm and down to earth in these types of situations,” Jussi Tanner, head of consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference. According to the Finnish media, however, there are many who have many questions in the current situation, primarily regarding how to organize land transport to Oman.