Thousands of Australians return home amid Iran conflict

"More than 2600 Australians have now returned home, but significant challenges remain and further work is underway to support those still seeking to leave," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. 

"If you're trying to come back to Australia and you are offered a seat, please take it. Take the opportunity."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said 2697 Australians had arrived from the UAE on 18 direct flights since the US-Israeli strikes were first launched on Iran on February 28.

More than 27,000 flights to and from the Middle East to international destinations have been cancelled, she added, with an estimated 4.4 million airline seats removed from schedules in the last week. 

"We have been working around the clock to support Australians who have been impacted by these cancellations," Senator Wong said. 

"We saw the first flight from Qatar direct to Australia land safely and we hope to see further flights in coming days."

There are four flights scheduled to leave from Dubai to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth on Tuesday afternoon, subject to airspace remaining open.

Two buses have been organised to help travellers stranded in Kuwait, where the airport has closed, and a similar plan is in place for Australians in Bahrain, Senator Wong said.

The prime minister also announced plans to send a high-tech spy plane and mid-range missiles to the Middle East to help protect around 115,000 Australians still in the region.

"Helping Australians meant also helping the UAE and other Gulf nations to defend themselves against what are unprovoked attacks," Mr Albanese said.

Registration for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Crisis Portal is open for Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE.

Senator Wong urged Australians to not travel to these locations, as well as Palestine and Yemen. 

Travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia should be reconsidered, she said.