Dubai: Severe weather conditions cancelled, diverted and delayed flights across the UAE on Wednesday, that also saw Abu Dhabi International temporarily shutting down its runway.
Abu Dhabi International suspended flights for around an hour “in line with civil aviation regulations” as heavy rain and strong winds lashed the emirate, an official statement said. The temporary closure had a knock-on effect in the region, with Abu Dhabi International being the UAE’s second busiest airport and home to Etihad Airways.
Diverted flights landed at nearby airports in Al Ain, Dubai and Muscat, according to the airport’s website. Flights resumed at around 1.45pm, according to a statement from operator Abu Dhabi Airports.
The ceiling of the Sky Park Plaza, a parking complex at Abu Dhabi International, was damaged in the deluge, Abu Dhabi Airports also said on Wednesday. “A video circulating on social media shows a ceiling collapsing at Sky Park Plaza opposite Terminal 3 and not at Abu Dhabi International Airport. There were no injuries suffered and the ceiling is being repaired,” the operator said in a statement.
The heavy rain also forced the closure of Abu Dhabi Air Expo for the second day in a row. Abu Dhabi Air Expo is a three-day business jet air show at Abu Dhabi’s executive airport Al Bateen that started on Tuesday as part of the emirate’s aviation week. Organisers have not said whether it will go ahead on Thursday.
Weather conditions cancelled and delayed flights in Dubai and caused delays in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, according to airport websites and airlines.
Some flights departing Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, were delayed by as much as two hours, according to the website of operator Dubai Airports.
“Operations at Dubai International and Dubai World Central have largely remained unaffected due to the current weather conditions in the UAE, with only minor delays for departure flights,” a Dubai Airports spokesperson told Gulf News by email.
Ten Emirates flights departing Dubai International were cancelled as of 2.35pm on Wednesday, with delays affecting arrivals and departures, an Emirates spokesperson told Gulf News by email.
“Passengers affected have been rebooked on the next available flights and have also been provided hotel accommodation,” the spokesperson said.
Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC), received two diverted flights, a Dubai Airports spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Flights were also delayed in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, according to Air Arabia, who is the main operator at the airports in the two emirates.
