Australia to reassess evacuation flights leaving Lebanon due to dwindling take-up

The federal government has warned it will be forced to reassess future evacuation flights leaving Lebanon due to decreasing take-up, with the planes departing Beirut half full.

As of Thursday, 1988 Australians have left Lebanon through government-chartered flights to Larnaca Cyprus, with 3350 Australians and their immediate family members registering their desire to leave Lebanon.

However, two flights leaving Beirut on Wednesday were only just over half filled, with 364 of the 660 available seats taken up.

The numbers were down from the day before when 409 of the available 660 seats were filled.

The government has now indicated it may be forced to reassess the viability of future flights going forward due to the low take-up.

As it stands, two flights have been scheduled to leave on Thursday.

For days the government has urged Australians remaining in Lebanon to board the soonest flight leaving the conflict zone, with Israel continuing attacks near the capital city.

While Israel has been warned to avoid targeting the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, there are fears this could change, with the Israeli air force carrying out strikes on the city’s southern suburbs earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Anthony Albanese pleaded with the thousands of remaining Australians to heed the warnings.

“Our message to Australians in Lebanon remains to please take the first flight option that is available to you,” the Prime Minister told parliament during question time on Tuesday.

“There should not be an empty seat on any of these flights. We will not be able to continue these flights indefinitely.

“Please come home when you have the opportunity. Do not wait. Do not think things might get better. Please come home and be safe.”