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19 March 2024

Etihad restores schedule after airport fog delays

NCMS has issued a statement warning of low horizontal visibility. (Supplied)

Published
By Staff

NEW UPDATE (8PM)

Etihad Airways continued to restore its flight schedule on Monday afternoon, following serious disruptions caused by the fog closure of Abu Dhabi Airport in the morning, and expects to resume normal operations within the next 24 hours.

Despite a number of delayed flights earlier on Monday, most passengers have either resumed their flights or been rebooked on other services. Assistance has also been provided to passengers who missed their connecting flights with Etihad Airways or partner airlines.

Etihad Airways deployed almost 100 additional staff to Abu Dhabi Airport, with continued assistance offered to departing and arriving guests disrupted by Monday morning’s heavy fog.

LATEST UPDATE:

Etihad Airways will operate most of its scheduled flights on Monday, despite serious disruptions this morning caused by the fog closure of Abu Dhabi Airport.

Although many services were or will be delayed, the airline will move the majority of passengers affected by the fog. Of the 21 inbound flights diverted on Monday morning to other airports, 15 were able to proceed to Abu Dhabi by midday.

Flights also departed from Abu Dhabi to Munich, Paris, New York, Milan, Rome, Manila, Riyadh, London, Dublin, Casablanca and Kuwait, with a large group of additional flights scheduled to leave early in the afternoon.

A fewf flights were cancelled and passengers rebooked on later Etihad Airways flights.

Of the flights diverted to other airports, 18 were passenger aircraft and three were freighters.

Update: Etihad Airways has deployed almost 100 additional staff to Abu Dhabi Airport to assist departing and arriving guests disrupted by this morning’s heavy fog.

Flights to and from the airport were delayed or diverted for several hours.

Etihad Airways is working to minimise disruption to its customers. However, delays are anticipated for the rest of the day.

Etihad Airways has resumed flights to and from Abu Dhabi Airport, after major disruptions caused by un-forecast fog.

Following the reopening of the airport’s runway at 6.10am, the airline recommenced operations into Abu Dhabi, and began repositioning 19 flights which had diverted to seven other airports in the region.

Flights from Abu Dhabi have also recommenced with services to Munich, Paris, New York, Milan and Rome departing shortly after the runway reopened.

Passengers are advised to contact the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 (0) 2599 0000 or visit the Etihad Airways website at www.etihad.com for more information

Flights into Abu Dhabi this morning were diverted to other airports in the region due to un-forecast fog.
 
The dense fog, which rolled in just after midnight, also delayed the departure of 44 early morning flights by up to four hours from Abu Dhabi, while several others were cancelled.
 
Six inbound flights from Colombo, Doha, Kuwait, Dammam, Seychelles and London were diverted to three airports – Al Ain, Al Bateen and Dubai World Central.
 
Etihad Airways is working to minimise disruption to its customers. However, delays are anticipated for the rest of the day.
 
Passengers are advised to contact the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 (0) 2599 0000 or visit the Etihad Airways website at www.etihad.com for more information on the status of flights in and out of Abu Dhabi Airport.

Fog alert for motorists

The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Police has called on drivers to be cautious while driving in changing weather conditions that may cause low visibility in some areas due to fog in Abu Dhabi.

The directorate also urged drivers to pay more attention while driving in the rain, and to refrain from braking suddenly – as this may cause the vehicle to slide due to the decreased efficiency of the brakes on wet surfaces.

Lt. Colonel Jamal Salem Al Ameri, Chief of Public Relations at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, Abu Dhabi Police, recommended that drivers follow the weather forecasts in order to be prepared to drive in any weather condition.

He emphasised the importance of leaving safe and sufficient space between vehicles, to avoid overtaking other vehicles, and to drive at an appropriate speed suitable for the surrounding conditions.

Lt. Colonel Al Ameri warned drivers from using their hazard lights and to use their low-beams in foggy conditions. Drivers should only use their hazards to indicate that they have come to a full stop, or if there is a risk on the road.

“Over the past 10 months of 2014, there have been 14 fog-related traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi. Of these accidents, there were two fatalities and two serious injuries,” he said. 

“Drivers should ensure the quality and efficiency of their brakes and wipers, and reduce the pressure applied to the brakes while stopping or slowing down. Should the vehicle begin to slide due to wet surfaces, drivers should press the brakes gradually until the vehicle stops sliding,” said Lt. Colonel Al Ameri.

He also warned drivers from parking under trees, phone and electricity towers, or billboards and construction sites during heavy storms.

“If there is a minor accident or a sudden mechanical breakdown of the vehicle during conditions of fog or rain, drivers must remove their vehicles from the road and park at the nearest safe zone,” he said.

Abiding by such protocol ensures both the safety of the driver and a smooth flow of traffic. Failure to remove the vehicle from the road will result in a fine of Dh200.

Addressing school bus drivers, Lt. Colonel Al Ameri said: “In order to avoid any accident that may injure students, drivers must reduce their speed in foggy and rainy conditions both at the beginning and end of their shifts.”