The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has urged all British nationals to leave Syria now, while commercial flights are still available.
The FCO is advising against all travel to the Syrian Arab Republic due to increasingly violent disturbances in urban centres across the country, including the capital Damascus.
In a statement, the FCO said: “In light of the deteriorating security situation, British nationals in Syria who have no pressing need to remain should leave now by commercial means.”
Bmi has started operating an amended schedule to Damascus in response to the heightened security fears.
All the airline’s flights from London Heathrow to Damascus are operating via Beirut.
Current timetables show flight BD 947 leaving LHR at 9pm, arriving into Beirut at 4.45am the following morning, before leaving for Syria at 7am, arriving into Damascus at 7.50am.
The return leg from Damascus to London is being flown direct.
Passengers with travel booked before May 22 can opt to receive a full refund for their tickets, or to change their flights to a new date and route.
www.flybmi.com