Chartered flights carrying stranded Brits home not free: British high commissioner

LONDON: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner on Sunday said that flights operating across the world to bring back British nationals to the UK are not free and that passengers will have to pay the ticket fare.

His remarks, which came during an online media briefing to Pakistani journalists in Britain, were a reminder of the clarification already made by Turner a day prior.

Turner said there are currently around 100,000 British nationals in Pakistan and in flying them back home, preference will be given to the elderly or those who are at risk of falling ill.

"We are under constant touch with PIA and will fly back 4,000 British nationals over the next five days," said Turner.

Thanking the national airline and Pakistani government, he said that PIA's airfare is "much more reasonable than that of other airlines".

Turner said that people were under the false impression that the British government was operating especially chartered flights free of cost. "This is incorrect. Passengers onboard chartered flights have to pay the fare as well."

Responding to a query regarding passengers who had already tested positive for COVID-19, the high commissioner said that Pakistani authorities will take full responsibility for their care and will keep them under isolation. "While they are ill, it will not be possible for them to travel back home."

Turner said that during travel, the safety of the British passengers is also PIA's resposibility "which I am confident they will ensure".

He also said that those who are not British nationals, but have a valid British visa are not barred from travelling to the UK.

Later, in a tweet, Turner also clarified that those with a valid National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) will be provided consular assistance, after it had been rumoured otherwise.