The European Union’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) confirmed on 5 March 2026 that it has chartered six special flights to evacuate EU citizens stranded in the Middle East as regional security deteriorates. Among the passengers were dozens of Italian nationals who had been unable to leave because of airport closures and suspended commercial routes. The air-bridges, mounted in less than 48 hours with military and charter aircraft, operated into Rome Fiumicino, Sofia, Vienna and Bratislava, from where onward connections were provided.
Italian diplomats say the majority of repatriated citizens were business travellers and expatriate workers based in Riyadh, Doha and Kuwait City whose employers activated contingency plans over the weekend. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) set up a 24-hour crisis cell and used its “Dove Siamo nel Mondo” tracking platform to identify nationals requesting extraction. Companies with staff on assignment in the Gulf—including Saipem, Eni and Leonardo—were asked to update travel-risk assessments and verify medical insurance before boarding.
For those returning to Italy on short notice, sorting out passports, replacement visas or transit documentation can add another layer of stress. VisaHQ’s Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) provides rapid guidance on entry rules, emergency visa processing and liaison with consular authorities, helping evacuees and employers resolve paperwork hurdles swiftly so they can focus on safety and business continuity.
![EU Coordinates Six Emergency Repatriation Flights From Middle East, Bringing Italians Home]()
Under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, operating costs are shared between the Commission and participating Member States; Italy covered the final legs to regional airports such as Milan Linate and Bologna to ease family reunification. Officials in Brussels said at least ten Member States have now triggered the mechanism, and more flights could follow if the security outlook worsens.
For global-mobility managers the episode is a reminder that evacuation logistics, emergency payroll and mental-health support must be embedded in assignment policies. Companies were praised for rapid deployment of travel-supplier networks—charter brokers, security escorts and immigration consultants—to manage border formalities on arrival in Italy. Employers are advised to review employee-location tools and ensure that travel authorisations allow for sudden rerouting via non-Schengen airports, where manual passport stamping may reset 90/180-day calculations.
Looking ahead, the ERCC has urged firms to pre-clear passenger manifests with Italian border police to avoid congestion in the event of further airlifts. The Commission also hinted it may fast-track digital Entry/Exit System (EES) waivers for evacuees, signalling growing interplay between crisis management and the EU’s forthcoming smart-borders architecture.
Italian diplomats say the majority of repatriated citizens were business travellers and expatriate workers based in Riyadh, Doha and Kuwait City whose employers activated contingency plans over the weekend. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) set up a 24-hour crisis cell and used its “Dove Siamo nel Mondo” tracking platform to identify nationals requesting extraction. Companies with staff on assignment in the Gulf—including Saipem, Eni and Leonardo—were asked to update travel-risk assessments and verify medical insurance before boarding.
For those returning to Italy on short notice, sorting out passports, replacement visas or transit documentation can add another layer of stress. VisaHQ’s Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) provides rapid guidance on entry rules, emergency visa processing and liaison with consular authorities, helping evacuees and employers resolve paperwork hurdles swiftly so they can focus on safety and business continuity.
Under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, operating costs are shared between the Commission and participating Member States; Italy covered the final legs to regional airports such as Milan Linate and Bologna to ease family reunification. Officials in Brussels said at least ten Member States have now triggered the mechanism, and more flights could follow if the security outlook worsens.
For global-mobility managers the episode is a reminder that evacuation logistics, emergency payroll and mental-health support must be embedded in assignment policies. Companies were praised for rapid deployment of travel-supplier networks—charter brokers, security escorts and immigration consultants—to manage border formalities on arrival in Italy. Employers are advised to review employee-location tools and ensure that travel authorisations allow for sudden rerouting via non-Schengen airports, where manual passport stamping may reset 90/180-day calculations.
Looking ahead, the ERCC has urged firms to pre-clear passenger manifests with Italian border police to avoid congestion in the event of further airlifts. The Commission also hinted it may fast-track digital Entry/Exit System (EES) waivers for evacuees, signalling growing interplay between crisis management and the EU’s forthcoming smart-borders architecture.
