A special Aegean Airlines repatriation flight touched down in Athens this week, carrying 101 Greek nationals and 45 pets, completing a high-stakes evacuation from Dubai amid deteriorating security conditions in the Persian Gulf.
The mission, dubbed "Operation Ark," was coordinated by the Foreign Ministry to rescue nationals stranded by the sudden suspension of commercial transit routes following the closure of regional airspace.
In a rare logistical feat, the aircraft was reconfigured to transport dozens of cats and dogs in the cabin and specialized cargo holds, ensuring families were not forced to abandon their animals.
"For many of these citizens, these animals are not just pets; they are family," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras.
Mr. Koutras noted that the mission faced "extreme bureaucratic hurdles" regarding international veterinary certifications and the rapid securing of overflight permits through volatile corridors.
The evacuation comes as the Greek government intensifies efforts to extract its citizens from the Middle East. Passengers arriving at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport described scenes of chaos in the Emirates before the flight’s departure.
"We felt increasingly trapped as the regional instability grew," said Maria Papadopoulou, who traveled with her two golden retrievers. Mrs. Papadopoulou praised the embassy’s coordination, adding, "Returning to Greece with our entire family intact brings a sense of security we thought we had lost."
Government officials confirmed that similar contingency plans are being drafted for Greek communities in other Gulf hubs.
While the flight was primarily a humanitarian gesture, the cost was partially subsidized by Aegean Airlines as part of its emergency response framework.