<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title=" Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> Government will start bus transit services from Qatar to the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/saudi-arabia" rel="" target="" title="Saudi Arabian"><span>Saudi Arabian</span></a><span> capital, in a bid to help Australians desperate to leave the war-torn </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="" title=" Middle East"><span>Middle East</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Foreign Affairs and Trade Assistant Minister Matt Thistlewaite this morning confirmed DFAT will start operating shuttle buses for stranded Australians leaving from Doha, where the airspace is currently restricted, to Riyadh.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From there, Australians will be able to book a commercial flight out of the region.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/aylo-pornhub-global-pornography-giant-blocks-australian-website-access-over-new-agecheck-laws/ccfe9d8a-6fd8-42a9-878e-7f561892f9b9" rel="" target="" title="Global pornography giant blocks Australian website access over new age-check laws"><strong><span>Global pornography giant blocks Australian website access over new age-check laws</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are working to consider transfers from Kuwait as well, subject to a safety assessment," Thistlewaite said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a fast-moving situation and the airspace is opening and then closing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The best option for people to get out is on commercial flights.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/government-to-offer-bus-rides-from-qatar-to-saudi-arabia-to-help-stranded-aussies-get-home/01e5eb0a-af57-4ef1-a77d-c04143fd5da4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If they are offered a seat on a commercial flight, they should seriously consider taking that option."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Basic accommodation support in Riyadh will be provided to Australians by DFAT, Thistlewaite said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The drive from Doha to Riyadh spans nearly 600 km and takes 6.5 hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A further 516 Australians returned home on four repatriation flights overnight, two of which landing in Sydney, another in Perth and one in Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-says-cuba-to-fall-soon/53ecb406-2629-415d-9b60-cefab14412af" target="" title="Trump identifies his next target for attack"><strong><span>Trump identifies his next target for attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Passenger Zoe said her flight was "pretty empty".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It wasn't that full and that was actually really upsetting. I feel really bad for the people who are still trying to get home," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since the conflict started, 1324 Australians have returned home safely from the region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government has also extended registration for 24-hour consular support to Bahrain, Lebanon and Qatar as the conflict expands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That's in addition to support provided to Australians receiving consular support in Israel, Iran, the UAE and Kuwait.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The announcement comes as Emirates and Qatar Airways recommence a "reduced flight schedule" following the partial reopening of the region's airspace.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) today announced the "partial resumption of air navigation" in the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This phase includes the operation of a limited numer of flights designated for passenger evacuation, in addition to the operation of air cargo flights," a QCAA spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Qatar Airways is coordinating a number of repatriation flights from Doha to London Heathrow, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Madrid, Rome Fiumicino and Frankfurt airports.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Priority on these flights was given to stranded passengers with families, elderly passengers, and those with urgent medical and compassionate travel needs," A Qatar Airways spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Each flight was pre-allocated by Qatar Airways directly to such affected passengers."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emirates said it transported around 30,000 passengers out of Dubai yesterday and has increased services to the UK and India.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The airline anticipates a return to 100 per cent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements," an Emirates spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>