Heavy rains in UAE lead to 17 flight cancellations and 3 diversions

• Some delayed flights landed around noon, affecting 17 inbound and outbound flights.
• Authorities issued safety advisories for residents and travelers due to rains and thunderstorms in the UAE.
• Etihad Airways also advised passengers to check the Etihad website for flight departure information.

Inclement weather disrupted flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Tuesday, causing cancellations, delays, and diversions of flights. Dubai Airports confirmed that bad weather on Tuesday impacted 17 inbound and outbound flights. Some delayed flights eventually landed around noon.

“Dubai Airports can confirm that normal operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been affected due to inclement weather conditions on Tuesday, with some delays to arriving and departing flights. Consequently, a total of nine outbound and eight inbound flights were canceled this morning, and three flights were diverted to other neighboring airports, one of which has since returned to DXB,” a Dubai Airport spokesperson said in a statement.

Dubai Airports instructed passengers to check directly with their airline for the latest information on the status of their flight, to allow extra travel time to the airport, and to use Dubai Metro for smoother transit.

“We are actively collaborating with our service partners and airlines to minimize any inconvenience experienced by our valued guests,” said a Dubai Airports spokesperson.

Rains and thunderstorms struck various parts of the UAE on Tuesday, prompting authorities at the federal and emirate levels to issue safety advisories for residents and travelers.

Meanwhile, a statement to Khaleej Times from a Flydubai spokesperson indicated that the adverse weather conditions in the UAE on April 16 affected the carrier’s flight schedule at Dubai International (DXB). “We have canceled some flights as a result and are currently experiencing some delays,” stated the airline’s spokesperson.

“We are working hard to minimize any disruption to our passengers’ travel schedules and are coordinating with all parties at the airport. We will continue to monitor the weather conditions closely, and we advise our passengers to allow extra time for their journey to the airport,” said the spokesperson.

Flydubai instructed passengers to check online 48 hours and 75 minutes before the flight departure time from Dubai.

“Passengers are advised to aim to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their flight departs as check-in closes 60 minutes before the flight departure time. Passengers can save time at the airport by using one of our new self-service kiosks in Terminal 2, where they can print their baggage tag and complete online check-in, then go directly to the dedicated bag drop desk,” said the Flydubai spokesperson.

A spokesperson from Etihad Airways stated that due to the potential adverse weather, including heavy rains in Abu Dhabi (AUH), on April 16, some flights may experience delays.

“We advise guests to regularly check the Etihad website for the latest information about their flight departure and to allow plenty of time to travel to the airport.  Etihad will be working closely with guests affected by any disruption to assist them with changes to their itineraries and to reach their final destination.”

“We prioritize the safety and comfort of our guests and crew, and regret any inconvenience caused,” stated the spokesperson.

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