Dubai’s major airlines, Emirates and flydubai, have announced the resumption of their full flight schedules following the disruption caused by torrential rain in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring regions. While operations are back to normal, both airlines are working to address the backlog of affected passengers.
Emirates’ president, Sir Tim Clark, acknowledged that the airline’s response to the storm was not flawless, citing challenges such as a flooded taxiway preventing planes from taking off and confusion among passengers in the terminals. Despite these difficulties, efforts have been made to rebook stranded passengers and restore regular flight schedules.
An open letter posted on the airlines’ website outlined plans to clear the backlog of rebooked passengers, estimated to be around 30,000, and establish a taskforce to manage the delivery of left-behind luggage. Sir Tim expressed gratitude for customers’ patience and understanding while apologizing for the inconvenience caused.
Earlier reports described scenes of chaos at Dubai International Airport, with passengers stranded and flights canceled or delayed. Sarah Jane Cahill, one affected traveler, described the airport as “a sea of bodies on every surface,” highlighting the scale of the disruption.
Both Emirates and flydubai have prioritized assisting passengers whose travel plans were impacted by the storm. Measures such as suspending check-in for departing passengers and embargoing ticket sales have been implemented to focus on affected customers.
With operations gradually returning to normal, Dubai International Airport aims to improve departure flow. As one of the world’s busiest airports, serving millions of passengers annually, restoring full flight operations is crucial for maintaining the airport’s status as a major global hub.
-BBC-
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