Heavy rain causes cancellations, diversions and delays at airports
Heavy rain and flooding persisted at Dubai International Airport (DXB), causing disruptions yesterday. Operations halted for 25 minutes in the afternoon, with 45 flights cancelled by 5.15pm, a DXB spokesperson told Gulf News. All inbound flights were diverted temporarily, but departures operated as normal.
“A total of 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights have been cancelled since 12.02am and three flights were diverted to other neighbouring airports,” the spokesperson said.
According to flightradar24, DXB arrivals showed an average disruption time of 74 minutes while departures were delayed by 85 minutes. Meanwhile, at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi arrivals were delayed by 45 minutes and departures by 55 minutes. Due to flooding on access roads, disruptions were expected to persist into the early hours today.
Dubai carrier flydubai also said the untable weather had impacted its flight schedule at DXB. “We have cancelled some flights and are currently experiencing some delays. We are working hard to minimise any disruption to our passengers’ travel schedules and are coordinating with all parties at the airport,” it said.
Emirates airline advised travellers to plan, cautioning that there could be delays on the roads leading to DXB. “We urge guests to check directly with their airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight, allow extra travel time to the airport, and use Dubai Metro for smoother transit,” a statement said.
Similarly, Etihad Airways acknowledged that adverse weather conditions might cause delays for some flights. Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi experienced delays, with some flights delayed by at least three to four hours.
Airport authorities cautioned passengers about potential delays today due to inclement weather, stating, “Due to fluctuating weather conditions, including heavy rain, in Abu Dhabi, some flights may be delayed.” Several flights, including those operated by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, were diverted to nearby airports.
Flights departing from Sharjah International Airport, including those operated by Air Arabia, also suffered massive delays, according to the airport’s live tracker.
What must passengers do?
Passengers are urged to check directly with their airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight and allow significant extra travel time to the airport. Authorities have also urged flyers to use Dubai Metro for smoother transit, which has extended operating hours until 3 am on Tuesday. “We are actively collaborating with our service partners and airlines to minimise any inconvenience experienced by our valued guests,” it said.
“We advise passengers to check with the airlines they are traveling on to obtain the latest information about their flight and to allow enough time to go to the airport,” said a statement from Zayed International Airport.