Flights resume at Kuwait airport

UAE carriers deploy bigger planes to accommodate stranded passengers

Passengers travelling between the UAE and Kuwait faced travel disruptions yesterday after severe weather conditions in Kuwait led to flight cancellations and delays.

Flights resumed at Kuwait International Airport around 4pm yesterday (local time) after bad weather forced a suspension of air traffic late on Wednesday. The Kuwait aviation authority had halted all departing flights from the airport and re-directed those landing to nearby airports in Manama, Dubai and Dammam. Kuwait’s civil aviation authority had earlier said that air traffic at the airport would remain suspended until 4pm local time yesterday.

At least six flights from Dubai to Kuwait were cancelled as of 2pm (UAE time) yesterday, a spokesperson of Dubai Airports confirmed to Gulf News. Due to the disruptions in services, Dubai Airports also urged passengers flying to Kuwait to check with their respective airlines for updates.

Minimising delays

“Overnight rains from Wednesday submerged main passages at the airport, resulting in the diversion of several incoming flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Dammam airports,” said the head of Kuwait’s civil aviation, Shaikh Salman Al Sabah.

UAE carriers Etihad and flydubai confirmed to Gulf News that some of their planes flying the Kuwait route had to stay grounded due to unstable weather, but bigger planes were being deployed to accommodate stranded flyers. Both airlines assured passengers that they were minimising the delays as much as possible.

“All affected guests have been transferred onto flights [that have] been upgraded to wide-body aircraft. In the meantime, we are providing our [stranded] guests with food and refreshments,” an Etihad spokesperson told Gulf News.

Emirates said all its flights to and from Kuwait had been cancelled yesterday. Operations would resume today.

“Customers travelling to and from Kuwait are advised to check emirates.com for updates,” the airline said in a statement.

Overnight rains from Wednesday submerged main passages at the airport, resulting in the diversion of several incoming flights to Dubai, Bahrain and Dammam airports.”

Shaikh Salman Al Sabah | Head of Kuwait’s civil aviation

AFP Motorists put on the headlights as they drive through torrential rain and mist as stormy weather battered Kuwait City on Wednesday — four days after flash floods hit the country.