British Airways evacuation flight from Middle East had more than 100 seats empty as thousands rush to return to UK

The aircraft had departed London on Sunday afternoon, arriving in Oman early Monday before completing a swift four-hour turnaround and returning to Heathrow at 10.35am.

Crew members had travelled overland to Oman from across the Gulf region after Iranian retaliatory strikes forced the closure of major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Meanwhile, over 130,000 British nationals have registered their location in the Gulf with the government, with the Foreign Office advising them to shelter in place as strikes continue.

Andrew Rae, a retired ship broker from Gloucestershire who had travelled to Dubai for his 62nd birthday celebrations, found himself among those left scrambling for alternatives.

After witnessing multiple BA flights cancelled, Mr Rae and his wife Emma were forced to purchase tickets with a different carrier at a combined cost of £4,000. He intends to pursue compensation from the airline.

"I feel there has been zero help. We've been left to our own devices," Mr Rae told The Times.

He acknowledged that evacuating crew was positive but criticised the failure to assist stranded passengers.

"For BA to send a plane over and come back with empty seats is frankly pathetic," he said, suggesting the airline could have accommodated elderly or young travellers.

An industry source expressed astonishment at BA's approach, telling The Times: "It's extraordinary that BA didn't fill their first flight out with passengers desperate to leave the region, as other airlines such as Emirates and Etihad have done."

The source noted that the carrier collects passenger contact information precisely for crisis situations of this nature.

BA does not ordinarily operate services to Muscat, requiring the airline to seek permission from Omani authorities before landing its evacuation aircraft.

The crisis has proved lucrative for private aviation firms, with EnterJet reporting a 40 per cent surge in bookings since Saturday.

The company, which connects clients with available private jets, described Muscat as "the only really viable option" for those seeking to escape the region.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday that a charter flight would depart Muscat "in the coming days," with priority given to vulnerable nationals.

British citizens currently in Oman must await contact from the Foreign Office regarding their options for returning home.

The Foreign Office confirmed it was developing contingency plans should the regional airspace closure persist.

BA stated it would operate flights from Muscat on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the first departure scheduled for 2.30am local time on 5 March.

The airline confirmed that passengers with bookings to Middle Eastern destinations through March 15 may amend their travel arrangements without charge or request refunds under certain conditions.

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