British nationals seeking to escape trouble-torn Egypt on a special government charter flight tomorrow (Thursday) are being charged £300 – about the same as a standard commercial single fare.
The 200-seat Boeing 757 from Cairo to Gatwick has been laid on by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to supplement commercial flights already being provided by UK airlines.
The government has been criticised for charging for the flight when other countries like Italy and Portugal have provided flights for their nationals for free.
Further aircraft will operate if necessary, foreign secretary William Hague announced. “This flight is not instead of commercial flights – those already booked on other commercial flights should not cancel their bookings,” the FCO said.
“There is a charge for using the charter which is approximately £300. You will be able to pay at the airport.”
Foreign secretary William Hague announced plans for the special charter as a nationwide curfew in Egypt was extended from 1pm to 8am local time.
“We recommend that British nationals without a pressing need to be in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez leave by commercial means, where it is safe to do so,” the FCO said. “We continue to advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez.”
Hague said that the special charter would leave today for Cairo. “We have been advising people in Cairo or Alexandria or Suez to leave if they can, if they don’t have any pressing reason to remain,” he said.
“The vast majority of those seeking to do so have been able to do so on commercial flights. But I’ve also decided to send a charter aircraft to enable further British nationals to leave the country if they wish to do so.”
He added: “I will send further flights if necessary just to make sure that people are able to leave if they wish to do so. But of course many remain doing their work in Egypt and we should salute the work they are doing.”