The airlift of tens of thousands of Britons from the Middle East is being hampered by restrictions on air space and flights. The Government is trying to organise mercy flights out of the gulf states of Oman and Abu Dhabi but there are serious restrictions due to the conflict. David Mumford of the international operations specialist Opsgroup said flights were being diverted because a corridor across the Gulf was “effectively closed.” It means flight times are longer with greater fuel burn. Irish