Dubai: UAE-based airlines said on Friday their flights to United States were operating as scheduled, but that they were monitoring the weather situation.
Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways told Gulf News their flights to the US are so far unaffected by the Hurricane Florence.
As for flights to the Philippines, Emirates said there will be “one minor delay” for the Manila flights.
Etihad Airways said it has cancelled flights to and from Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday as super typhoon Mangkhut nears the region.
Etihad’s flight EY834 from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong on Saturday (September 15) has been cancelled, as has the EY33 inbound flight from Hong Kong to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a spokesperson confirmed.
Guests booked on these flights are being assisted with their travel arrangements and are being rebooked onto the next available flights, Etihad added.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this cancellation has caused, and we remain committed to offering the highest level of service to our guests. As always safety remains the airline’s number one priority,” the spokesperson said.
Etihad passengers seeking information on their flight status may call the airline's contact centre on +971-02-599 0000.
The UAE Embassy in Washington earlier this week alerted Emiratis living on the east coast to exercise caution ahead of Hurricane Florence.
“UAE citizens in Virginia, North and South Carolina areas, Hurricane Florence may become a category 4 storm. Stay tuned to your local news for safety instructions, call 911 for emergencies, and contact the UAE embassy at +97180044444 for further assistance,” the embassy said on Twitter.
Elsewhere, the Philippines is also bracing for a powerful typhoon that is expected to bring 170 mile-an-hour winds to the northern part of the country. Typhoon Mangkhut is a category 5 storm that is leading thousands to evacuate their homes, The New York Times reported.
Heavy rainfall and whipping winds were being reported on the country’s eastern coast as government officials plead with residents to move to shelters, The Times said.
