The first Government-chartered plane sent to fly home hundreds of Britons stranded in violence-torn Libya has landed in Tripoli.
Two aircraft were also placed on standby by the RAF as efforts were stepped up to help with the delayed rescue mission.
Around 100 British nationals onboard a flight operated by oil giant BP were also due to leave the capital en route to Gatwick, after the Foreign Office found space for them.
The FCO said it was hoping to charter "a number of additional planes" to Libya throughout today, to ensure all stranded Britons are brought home safely.
"We are talking about additional planes landing but can not give anymore information due to operational reasons," added a spokesman.
Around 300 UK nationals are believed to be in Tripoli, while some 170 more - mainly oil workers - are in remote desert camps at risk of attack as violence continues.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed a RAF transport plane based in Malta was awaiting orders, while another was en route to the Mediterranean island in case it was also needed.
"Both planes were already in the region and will be on standby to help with the evacuation," a spokesman said.
Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland is also due to arrive on the Libyan coast today to evacuate the 70 or so Britons around the Benghazi area.
which was hampered yesterday after the first rescue flight broke down at Gatwick and was delayed for 10 hours.
The Government has faced intense criticism over its stuttering rescue operation,Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has cancelled a planned trip to Washington to lead the response, said he would be launching a review into the delays.
He added the Government would send "as many aircraft as necessary".
But as hundreds still waited to leave the chaos-hit country, Britons and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the Foreign Office has taken too long to respond.
One oil worker yesterday said he and his colleagues had been left by the British embassy without protection.
James Coyle, who is based between the capital Tripoli and second city Benghazi, said: "We are living a nightmare and we have asked the British Government and they have just totally ignored us.
"They don't reply to emails, they have cut off the phones to Tripoli. We told them the situation three days ago - they never even replied to us.
Hundreds of Libyans have been killed in violent clashes between anti-government protesters and forces loyal to dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in recent days.
Several other countries have also been trying to evacuate thousands of foreign citizens trapped in Libya's deadly violence.
US:
America has said it will begin evacuating its citizens by ferry from Tripoli to Valletta in Malta.
America has said it will begin evacuating its citizens by ferry from Tripoli to Valletta in Malta.
But unease over the safety of US citizens has intensified after attempts to get some of them out over the last two days were unsuccessful.
France:
France is sending military planes to Tripoli to evacuate its citizens. It is believed two are there already, while a third is waiting clearance to fly in.
France is sending military planes to Tripoli to evacuate its citizens. It is believed two are there already, while a third is waiting clearance to fly in.
Greece:
A Greek cargo ship has sailed to Libya to evacuate at least 300 Greek nationals who live there.
A Greek cargo ship has sailed to Libya to evacuate at least 300 Greek nationals who live there.
China:
The Chinese government has evacuated as many as 15,000 of its citizens using three Greek ships.
The Chinese government has evacuated as many as 15,000 of its citizens using three Greek ships.
The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis said one of the ships had already reached Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, to pick up the first batch of Chinese nationals.
He told Sky News he expected the two other vessels to reach the same destination within hours.
Officials said the stranded foreigners were being taken to the Greek island of Crete.
China plans to use a jet, ships and fishing vessels to help evacuate more of its citizens.
Italy:
Italy will be sending a plane to Tripoli to bring back Italians who want to leave.
Italy will be sending a plane to Tripoli to bring back Italians who want to leave.
Russia:
Russia has begun evacuating more than 500 of its citizens and 700 non-Russian employees of its state-owned companies.
Russia has begun evacuating more than 500 of its citizens and 700 non-Russian employees of its state-owned companies.
Turkey:
Turkey has evacuated 3,000 Turks on two ships from the chaos of Libya's popular uprising. They are hoping to evacuate 25,000 more.
Turkey has evacuated 3,000 Turks on two ships from the chaos of Libya's popular uprising. They are hoping to evacuate 25,000 more.
Bosnia:
A Bosnian plane, due to evacuate from Tripoli the first group out of up to 1,500 Bosnian citizens from Libya, is awaiting a permit from authorities there, said Zoran Perkovic, the assistant foreign minister.
A Bosnian plane, due to evacuate from Tripoli the first group out of up to 1,500 Bosnian citizens from Libya, is awaiting a permit from authorities there, said Zoran Perkovic, the assistant foreign minister.
Bulgaria:
A Bulgarian government airplane took off for Tripoli and a second plane was due to depart on Tuesday. About 1,500 Bulgarians live and work in Libya, some in Libya's second biggest city of Benghazi.
A Bulgarian government airplane took off for Tripoli and a second plane was due to depart on Tuesday. About 1,500 Bulgarians live and work in Libya, some in Libya's second biggest city of Benghazi.
India:
India is finalising plans to evacuate all 18,000 of its nationals from Libya.
India is finalising plans to evacuate all 18,000 of its nationals from Libya.
India's foreign ministry plans to move 13,000 nationals in Tripoli to Tunisia, and the remainder in the east of the country to before transferring them on ships and aircraft, the Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
The Netherlands:
Dutch officials said a KDC-10 air force transport plane left Tripoli yesterday with 32 Dutch evacuees and 50 other nationalities.
Dutch officials said a KDC-10 air force transport plane left Tripoli yesterday with 32 Dutch evacuees and 50 other nationalities.
Many oil companies including BP have also been evacuating their expatriate workers and their families.