No UAE flights to Brussels today and tomorrow

UPDATE:  Brussels Airport has confirmed it will remain closed for passenger flights on Thursday as well, following the terror attack on March 22.

In a statement on its official Twitter account, the authority said: "There will be no passenger flights into and out of Brussels Airport tomorrow Thursday 24 March. Contact your airline for flight information."

Details are awaited from UAE carriers on further flight updates.

EARLIER REPORT

As Brussels Airport remains closed another day in wake of the devastating terror attack in the Belgium capital on Tuesday, passengers travelling from the Gulf may rebook their flights, with alternative airport options.

Emirates flight EK183 Dubai-Brussels and return, EK184, remains cancelled on March 23, with yesterday’s EK183 diverted to Dusseldorf airport and the return also cancelled following the Brussels Airport closure.

Those booked on EK183 on March 23 from Dubai to Brussels will find their tickets rebooked onto EK55/March 23 from Dubai to Dusseldorf, scheduled to arrive in Dusseldorf at 1245 local time.

Customers must make their own ground transport arrangements to Brussels.

Passengers booked on those flights are requested to get in touch with the airline’s call centre or travel agents for rebooking.

In an earlier update, the airline had said that due to the ongoing closure of Brussels Airport and uncertainty about its reopening time EK184/March 23 flight from Brussels to Dubai was rescheduled to depart from Dusseldorf Airport.

All customers who were booked on EK184/March 23 from Brussels were automatically rebooked onto this service from Dusseldorf.

Customers who did not wish to take this flight could rebook on an alternative flight from Dusseldorf or other Emirates European departure point by contacting its call centres.

Etihad has confirmed flights EY055 and EY056, the former that was scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi for Brussels at 0930 hrs (UAE local time) on Wednesday 23 March 2016, will operate through Dusseldorf airport.

Flight EY055 Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf will now depart Abu Dhabi for Dusseldorf on 13.30 (Abu Dhabi local time).

Ground Transport to Brussels will be provided by the airline, it confirmed.

Meanwhile, the return flight EY056 will depart Dusseldorf for Abu Dhabi at 20.30 (Dusseldorf local time)  and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 06.10 (UAE local time) on Thursday (March 24).

Etihad Airways said it will also be offering all affected passengers on flight EY058, due to have departed Brussels for Abu Dhabi yesterday morning, travel through Dusseldorf airport on flight EY056 on Wednesday, March 23.

The Abu Dhabi-based carried added that at this stage it was unable to confirm ground transport to Dusseldorf in Brussels due to current security restrictions in place.

Passengers wishing to travel on EY56 are advised to arrange their own transportation from Brussels to Dusseldorf.

The airline is also offering rebooking options for those guests who have purchased tickets on and before March 22, 2016, for travel to/from/via Brussels until March 29.

Passengers are advised to call the Etihad Airways Contact Centre.

Qatar Airways has also said it flights to and from Brussels Airport may be subject to delay or cancellations following the closure of the airport.

Passengers holding booked tickets are advised to call Qatar Airways’ 24-hour call centre for more information and the rebooking options being made available to them.

Brussels Airport update

In a statement on its website, the airport authority confirmed the airport would remain closed as it has no access to the building.

The full statement reads:

“Brussels Airport extends its deepest sympathy to the friends and relatives of the victims of the explosions in the departures hall earlier this morning.

“Following these attacks, there will be no flights into and out of Brussels Airport tomorrow [Wednesday].

“Because the forensic investigation is still underway, we currently have no access to the building. It is therefore impossible for us to assess the damage. As a result the airport will remain closed to air traffic tomorrow.”

Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist said they were fully collaborating with the judicial and police services but until the investigation is complete, ‘nobody is allowed to enter the departures hall, including the airport staff’.

“In the course of Wednesday we will assess when the operations can be resumed.

“Passengers are requested to contact their airline for further instructions.”

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.