A second privately chartered flight organized by the U.S. Embassy has left Lebanon, the State Department announced today, bringing to 250 the number of Americans and their immediate family members who have departed on U.S.-arranged flights.
The United States is also working with airlines to offer 1,400 seats to Americans on existing commercial flights, but not all of those tickets are affordable.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken that U.S. families are having “extreme difficulty finding safe travel routes back home from Lebanon” and that some airline tickets may He said each ticket could cost up to $8,000. The State Department said today that it recognizes the high price tag and said it is one of the reasons for organizing private charters.
“The most Americans will pay for a seat on one of these flights is $283, but if you can’t afford to pay $283, you don’t have $283. You can get a loan from the U.S. government to pay for that ticket. “We therefore urge American citizens who wish to leave the country to take the advice we provide and register on our website.” And we’ll contact them about available flights and work with them to get them on the plane.”They need a flight they can afford.” ”
The State Department is prohibited by U.S. law from offering seats to U.S. citizens without seeking compensation.
Miller added that the United States will continue to arrange flights “as long as the security situation remains challenging, as long as there are insufficient commercial options, and as long as there is demand.”
The State Department also announced a program to provide loans to U.S. citizens who wish to remain in Lebanon but instead relocate to safer destinations in Lebanon.
“We are working 24/7 to provide American citizens in Lebanon with as many options as possible to leave the country,” Miller said. “We understand that not all of them want to leave, but our goal is to provide them with as many options as possible to ensure their safety.”
