Cypriots stranded in the UK will be repatriated with two chartered flights, according to the existing plan of the Cyprus Crisis Management Center.
 
The first of the two flights will depart in the early hours of Saturday from Heathrow airport with Aegean, a source told CNA.
 
A second flight from the UK is also planned, but there is no final decision as to the airport of departure yet. The Crisis Management Center is considering either London or Manchester, to cover this geographical area as well. The time of departure is not final either.
  
Speaking about repatriation operations, the same source said that Cypriots in the UK are a priority, due to the large number of people who want to return home.
 
“The Center focused its efforts on the UK, where there are hundreds of people stranded, more than 500” it was noted.
  
People boarding flights chartered by the Cyprus government, and which are expected to arrive in Cyprus after the universal flight ban enters into force, at 3am (local time) on Saturday, will be exempt from restrictions. However, entry to the Republic of Cyprus is allowed only for people who went abroad for medical reasons, for a short stay, for business purposes or were on an official mission, in line with the relevant decree.
  
There were no particular problems with Cypriots stranded in Greece and most were repatriated using scheduled flights, said the same source.
 
As for Cypriots stranded elsewhere in Europe, it was noted that they only number a few cases, which the Center handles individually, in cooperation with local Cyprus Embassies.

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