US-UAE travel: Emirates cancels some flights amid Arctic blast
Thousands of flights were delayed, cancelled after the weekend winter blast
Dubai: Dubai's flagship carrier, Emirates, has cancelled its flights to Houston, Texas, amid severe weather conditions. In a travel update shared on its website, the airline said, "Flight EK211 Dubai to Houston and EK212 Houston to Dubai flights operating on January 21 have been cancelled."
The airline said it regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers.
After a weekend winter blast that saw thousands of flights delayed and cancelled along the East Coast, airports are already preparing for major disruptions in parts of Texas, Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast ahead of a second significant winter storm — a system that could bring snow and ice to parts of the country that seldom see wintry conditions.
On Monday, nearly 1,700 flights scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.
That includes more than 90 per cent of all flights scheduled to depart Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and close to 95 per cent of departures at nearby Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) — though passengers should be ready the entire day's schedule to be axed.
"Affected passengers booked with travel agents should contact them for alternative travel arrangements. Passengers who have booked directly with Emirates may contact their local office for rebooking options," the carrier said.
Other carriers including United Airlines, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, KLM, Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, and Air France were also hit. Key hubs in the Northeast, including Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, JFK, and Boston Logan, are bearing the brunt of the disruptions as airlines struggle to manage operations amid snow and icy conditions. Carriers such as Virgin Atlantic, Republic Airlines, and Finnair have also experienced operational challenges.
