Emirates, Etihad flights to and from Europe normal, for now

Abu Dhabi: UAE-based airline companies Emirates and Etihad Airways said on Saturday their flight operations to and from Europe are normal despite inclement weather conditons in some parts of the continent over the last few days.

"We currently do not have any significant disruptions. In recent days, some Emirates flights to Gatwick were re-routed to the Heathrow airport in London as the Gatwick airport was closed due to heavy snow. Gatwick has since reopened," a spokeswoman for the Dubai-based Emirates told Gulf News by telephone.

"At this stage, our flights (to Europe) are operating to schedule," said a spokeswoman for Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

However, she added that the "airline continues to monitor the weather situation in Western Europe very closely".

"The airline has not cancelled any of its flights to Europe, but has experienced some diversions and delays to its Dublin services, due to heavy snow in the region. Flight EY41 Abu Dhabi - Dublin was diverted to Shannon due to the temporary closure of the runway at Dublin airport," the Etihad spokewoman added.

Last week, heavy snow caused travel chaos across much of northern Europe, keeping London's Gatwick airport closed for a second day on Thursday and disrupting road and rail travel in France, Germany and Switzerland.

In Germany, scores of flights were cancelled and many delayed at airports in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin.

Geneva's Cointrin airport reopened on Thursday after the heaviest snowfall in decades closed its only runway for nearly 36 hours. Hundreds of stranded passengers spent a second night in the airport or in civil protection shelters.