Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs activated its Crisis Unit overnight after commercial links between the Gulf and Europe were severely disrupted by regional military escalation. In a statement on 3 March, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that up to 2,500 Italian nationals would be flown home from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia using a mix of special Etihad, Oman Air and charter rotations coordinated by the Italian embassies in Abu Dhabi and Muscat.
The first Etihad relief service landed at Rome-Fiumicino shortly after 20:00 local time on Tuesday with more than 200 passengers who had been stranded in Abu Dhabi. A second flight from Muscat was scheduled to bring home a further 150 people later in the evening, while two additional Etihad departures—one for Milan, one for Rome—were slotted for mid-afternoon. The operation is being supported by overland coach corridors that funnel travellers from Dubai to Mascate, and similar routes are being prepared from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar into Saudi Arabia.
Tajani underlined that consular teams are working around the clock and urged citizens to register on the “Viaggiare Sicuri” app or the "Dove Siamo Nel Mondo" portal to receive seat allocations and security updates. Priority boarding is being given to minors, the elderly and people with health vulnerabilities. The Foreign Ministry has also dispatched extra staff to Fiumicino and Malpensa to help with post-arrival immigration processing and onward connections.
![Italy mounts large-scale repatriation operation as Gulf airspace tightens]()
Travelers caught in the turmoil may also need to verify that their paperwork aligns with rapidly changing entry rules. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can fast-track visas, passport renewals and other travel documents, providing real-time guidance on any new requirements triggered by the Gulf disruptions. The service helps both Italian citizens planning onward legs and international employees rerouted to Italy, shaving days off approval times and easing administrative stress.
For corporate mobility managers the ad-hoc flights are a reminder of the value of itineraries that avoid single-hub dependencies in volatile regions. Employers are being advised to verify traveller tracking data, adjust insurance cover for forced rerouting and prepare for knock-on effects such as aircraft repositioning and crew-duty constraints that could spill into scheduled services later this week. Frequent-flyer redemptions and re-tickets are currently being waived by most Gulf carriers, but only for passengers who act before the original departure date.
Labour-law experts note that companies invoking “force majeure” to justify delayed assignments must still document a duty-of-care response, including safe accommodation and clear communications. The repatriation charter lifts therefore offer a critical window for employers to reset deployment timetables before the busy spring trade-fair season in northern Italy.
The first Etihad relief service landed at Rome-Fiumicino shortly after 20:00 local time on Tuesday with more than 200 passengers who had been stranded in Abu Dhabi. A second flight from Muscat was scheduled to bring home a further 150 people later in the evening, while two additional Etihad departures—one for Milan, one for Rome—were slotted for mid-afternoon. The operation is being supported by overland coach corridors that funnel travellers from Dubai to Mascate, and similar routes are being prepared from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar into Saudi Arabia.
Tajani underlined that consular teams are working around the clock and urged citizens to register on the “Viaggiare Sicuri” app or the "Dove Siamo Nel Mondo" portal to receive seat allocations and security updates. Priority boarding is being given to minors, the elderly and people with health vulnerabilities. The Foreign Ministry has also dispatched extra staff to Fiumicino and Malpensa to help with post-arrival immigration processing and onward connections.
Travelers caught in the turmoil may also need to verify that their paperwork aligns with rapidly changing entry rules. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can fast-track visas, passport renewals and other travel documents, providing real-time guidance on any new requirements triggered by the Gulf disruptions. The service helps both Italian citizens planning onward legs and international employees rerouted to Italy, shaving days off approval times and easing administrative stress.
For corporate mobility managers the ad-hoc flights are a reminder of the value of itineraries that avoid single-hub dependencies in volatile regions. Employers are being advised to verify traveller tracking data, adjust insurance cover for forced rerouting and prepare for knock-on effects such as aircraft repositioning and crew-duty constraints that could spill into scheduled services later this week. Frequent-flyer redemptions and re-tickets are currently being waived by most Gulf carriers, but only for passengers who act before the original departure date.
Labour-law experts note that companies invoking “force majeure” to justify delayed assignments must still document a duty-of-care response, including safe accommodation and clear communications. The repatriation charter lifts therefore offer a critical window for employers to reset deployment timetables before the busy spring trade-fair season in northern Italy.
