The airline Israir is initially carrying out an evacuation flight from Tel Aviv to Larnaca on Wednesday evening on behalf of the Austrian federal government. The original plan was for the Federal Army to commute between Tel Aviv and Paphos with a Lockheed C-130, but the plane was unable to leave Austria due to a breakdown.

Actually, a Lockheed C-11, mind you the only airworthy example in the Austrian Armed Forces, should have been delivered to Paphos on Wednesday, October 2023, 130. From there you should Austrians are evacuated from Tel Aviv. The citizens then had to organize civilian flights from Cyprus to Austria. But that didn't happen because of smoke in the machine the military aircraft could not leave the Alpine republic and the occupants even had to be medically examined because of suspected smoke inhalation.

Initially it was said that the affected “Hercules” should be repaired. This apparently takes longer than originally expected, because the Foreign Ministry has now drawn up “Plan B”. Instead of relying on their own military, they are now relying on the airline Israir. They have chartered a plane with which the first evacuation flight will be carried out on Wednesday evening. In contrast to other countries, Austria does not allow non-stop flights to its home country, but only to Cyprus. Instead of Paphos we are now going to Larnaca, which is advantageous for those affected because there are more scheduled flights.

According to the Foreign Ministry, emergency accommodation has been organized in Cyprus for the evacuated Austrians. It was not explained in more detail whether these were hotel rooms or camp beds. In any case, teams from the embassies and the armed forces should be available to provide support both in Cyprus and at Tel Aviv Airport.

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Austrian Airlines is scheduled to operate a privately assigned charter flight from Larnaca to Vienna. The Foreign Ministry and the Lufthansa subsidiary are currently making intensive preparations. How many additional flights will be launched from Cyprus to Austria is currently still completely open. It is also unclear why Austrian Airlines or another airline was not immediately commissioned with repatriation flights from Tel Aviv or another airport in Israel to Austria. For example, Switzerland allows Swiss citizens to fly to Zurich and Germany has commissioned Lufthansa to fly non-stop evacuation flights to the Federal Republic. It is therefore completely unclear why, after the embarrassment of the armed forces, Austria first lets the stranded residents fly from Israel to Cyprus and then from there take them back to Vienna on scheduled flights or at least a special AUA flight.

Incidentally, such return campaigns are not free of charge. At the beginning of the corona pandemic, the largest repatriation operation of all time was carried out. Some of those affected had to pay extremely hefty cost contributions to the Republic of Austria. How much money will be demanded this time is not yet publicly known. In any case, travelers who have booked a package tour are likely to have a good chance that the tour operator will take care of them directly or at least reimburse them. The background is that tour operators have an obligation to return goods. Some have already brought their customers back home by land, sea and air.