Tsunami alert: Are UAE flights to Japan, US impacted after major Russia quake?

Dubai: A powerful earthquake with an 8.8 magnitude struck off the coast of Russia’s Far East region earlier today, triggering tsunami warnings for coastal areas from the US to Japan.

The tsunami threat does not directly impact the UAE, and the seismic event hasn’t caused any disruptions to air travel, particularly for flights originating from the UAE bound for destinations in Japan and Alaska.

UAE airlines said their flights were not affected in countries where the tsunami alert had been issued. UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways said all flights are “operating as normal” to all destinations. The Abu Dhabi-headquartered airline operates flights to the US, Japan, Russia and other countries.

Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates hasn’t reported any delay in operations to affected cities, according to Dubai Airport’s flight status data. flydubai flights to Russia are operating as scheduled.

At least two US carriers held their flights from the US mainland to the Hawaiian islands in response to a tsunami warning triggered by the megaquake. Seattle-based Alaska Air Group said it is “assessing our flight operations” as it monitors the tsunami warning. In response, the company has paused flights bound for Hawaii on both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, reported Flight Global.

Japanese carriers such as Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have cancelled all flights to and from Sendai as a result of tsunami warnings. International operators such as HK Express and EVA Air also suspended Sendai flights on 30 July, according to airport information.