On Friday, Australia's national flag carrier, Qantas, announced it would operate two free-of-charge mercy flights to rescue Australians wanting to leave Lebanon. Today, the first Dreamliner departed Sydney bound for Cyprus, where passengers are waiting after charter flights brought them from Lebanon to Larnaca. The Qantas rescue mission is underway On October 7, 2024, Qantas flight ASY1258 departed Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) at 07:03 (October 6, 20:03 UTC).
The flight is being operated with a 2018 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner , registration VH-ZNC and MSN 39040, scheduled to land at Larnaca International (LCA) at 14:30 local time. Qantas is operating two rescue flights. The second flight, ASY1270, is scheduled to depart Larnaca on Wednesday evening and arrive back in Australia on Thursday evening.
These flights are being operated in cooperation with the Australian government, although Qantas is carrying passengers free of cost and not charging the government for the two flights. The return flight is expected to depart Larnaca on Monday evening with up to 220 passengers onboard and arrive at Sydney Kingsford Smith on Tuesday evening. Extending its humanitarian approach, Qantas will then fly passengers to their nearest home domestic airport that it operates to, again at no cost to those passengers.
As it has done many times before, Qantas is stepping up to help Australians in danger return home free of charge. A Qantas team of volunteers on their way In addition to the fou.
