DUBAI - Dubai International Airport said on April 17 it was experiencing significant disruption due to bad weather and was working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
Flights have been delayed or diverted and impacted by displaced crew, the airport said in a statement, adding that recovery would take some time.
Dubai’s Emirates airline said it was suspending check-in for passengers departing the airport from 8am local time (12pm Singapore time) on April 17 until midnight due to operational challenges caused by the bad weather and road conditions.
Dubai International Airport was temporarily diverting arriving flights on April 16 evening because of a storm and operations were suspended for 25 minutes earlier in the day.
Singapore Airlines Flight SQ494, operating from Singapore to Dubai on April 16, was diverted to Muscat International Airport in Oman.
Two flights from Changi Airport to Dubai International Airport – SIA’s SQ494 and Emirates Airlines’ EK355 – were cancelled on April 17 due to the exceptional weather conditions in Dubai.
“Passengers are advised to check with their airlines on their flight’s status,” said a Changi Airport Group spokesman.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Emirates Airlines said its flights from Singapore to Dubai on April 16, as well as one early morning flight on April 17, experienced “slight delays” due to the bad weather but they landed in Dubai safely after.
Earlier on April 17, its Flight EK353 – which was scheduled to depart at 12.50am – left almost four hours later at 4.30am, according to the website.
Dubai International Airport’s website said the flight landed in Dubai at 9.23am, more than five hours past its scheduled arrival time of 4.15am.
The Dubai-based carrier on April 17 suspended check-in for passengers departing Dubai International Airport until midnight after record rain caused significant damage across the United Arab Emirates.
It said passengers arriving in Dubai and already in transit would continue to be processed but warned that delays to departures and arrivals should be expected. Customers were advised to check the latest flight schedules on its website.
“Emirates and Dubai International Airport are working relentlessly with partners to restore normal operations. Affected customers can call their booking agents or Emirates contact centre for rebooking,” it said. REUTERS
- Additional reporting by Chin Hui Shan
