Government-chartered flights have been sent to Libya to evacuate stranded British nationals.
A 200-seat plane was due to arrive this evening (February 23) at Tripoli airport, which according to reports is extremely crowded with people trying to leave Libya.
In a statement on its website, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “Those without a pressing need to remain in the country, should leave by commercial means if it is safe to do so.”
A second plane has been chartered by the FCO, which will most likely arrive in the Libyan capital tomorrow.
People looking to take the free of charge charter flights should arrive at Tripoli airport as early as possible, said the FCO, where they will be met by British Embassy staff outside the airport terminal.
Food and water facilities at the airport are limited, warned the FCO, so passengers are being advised to bring their own supplies.
A number of other European nations have also chartered rescue flights, including France and Russia.
Air Charter Service has reported that its first flight left Libya today, to Turkey.
The aircraft charter firm said virtually no flights are departing from Tripoli, causing problems for those trying to leave.
Matt Purton, commercial jets director at ACS, said that on February 22, only two landing permits for chartered flights out of the 457 registered had been granted.
One of these was for the A320 carrying nearly 200 Turkish citizens to Antalya.
“We now have permits for four more flights, all to operate today,” he said.
“Across our worldwide offices we have bookings in place for more than 3,000 people and are just waiting on those permits.
“We are pushing these through diplomatic channels as this appears to be the only way at the moment.”