Some Canadians stranded in the Middle East because of the war in Iran have begun landing in Toronto after securing limited seats on flights out of the region.
The first Canadians to return from Dubai arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning after several days of travel disruptions in the Gulf region due to heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Due to heightened security concerns, airspace was closed in parts of the Middle East and airlines were forced to cancel or reroute flights, leaving many people scrambling to find seats.
Nisreen Maktabi was visiting her sister in Dubai.
“My flight was canceled and there were no flights, so it was very difficult to get on this flight,” he said.
According to the Canadian government, only select flights are approved for return trips for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Thursday that the federal government is working with international partners to support Canadians in the region.
“I am in close contact with our international partners to help get Canadians out of harm’s way,” Anand said in a social media post.
“To Canadians in the Middle East and Gulf region: Your government is with you and we are working 24-7 to ensure your safety.”
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Many travelers returning to Canada said they had arranged their own flights home.
“I secured it myself. I had to go to the website to register and get an email saying, ‘Shelter in place and if you can secure the flight, get on the flight.’ That’s it,” Maktabi said.
Despite the pressure to leave the region, he felt relieved to have arrived in Canada.
“I have very mixed feelings because my family is in Lebanon and Dubai, and I cried on the plane because of what’s happening. It’s really scary and it’s a nightmare … I’m glad to be safe, but my heart is with my family.”
Other travelers have described similar challenges securing flights as departures become limited.
Godwin Scott said it took several days to find a seat after the disruptions began.
“To be honest, it was very difficult to get a flight. I was booked on Saturday night, but I am getting a flight only on Wednesday night,” he said.
Scott said the atmosphere in Dubai has become tense as the conflict has intensified.
“From where I was staying in Dubai, we heard a lot of intercepting missiles, a lot of loud bangs. The house was shaking,” he said.
“Once you hear a bang, you can’t sleep anymore because you’re worried.”
Meanwhile, others said they were safe in Dubai and praised the United Arab Emirates and local authorities for their help.
“We have received general assistance from the Dubai government,” said Ahed Sheikh, whose flight was delayed by a day. “He did a great job and handled it well,” he said.
Edmonton-bound passenger Eve Noga said she and her husband registered with the Canadian government for assistance. The government says it is working to secure charter flights for about 1,200 Canadians in the United Arab Emirates.
Noga said he has received some information about that support.
“Disappointed, you know. In short, we were a little bit more hopeful about the response,” he said.
Air Canada previously announced the cancellation of all flights to Dubai until March 3 and to Tel Aviv until March 8.
The airline has revised its ticketing policy to allow customers traveling on affected flights to make changes without penalty, space allowance.
Toronto Pearson International Airport continues to adjust routes and schedules in response to the situation, warning passengers of delays or cancellations.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has updated travel advisories for several countries in the Gulf region as of Saturday, due to ongoing military activity.
GAC said additional staff are being sent to consulates in countries bordering Iran to help Canadians fleeing the conflict.
Airspace in Qatar, Israel and Iran is closed.
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(tags to translate)Iran(T)Toronto Pearson Airport(T)Canada(T)World
