Emirates and Flydubai Return to Regular Operations Following Dubai Floods

Emirates and flydubai Resume Normal Operations After Severe Flooding in UAE

After heavy rains caused severe flooding across the United Arab Emirates earlier this week, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates and sister airline flydubai have restored normal operations, the airlines announced on Saturday.

Emirates had to cancel nearly 400 flights and delay many more due to a record storm that hit Dubai on Tuesday. The storm flooded taxiways at Dubai International Airport, a major global travel hub, leading to flight diversions, delays, and cancellations. This left thousands of travelers stranded as the airlines suspended check-in and transit operations.

Flydubai also returned to its full flight schedule from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at the airport following the weather-related disruption.

Emirates’ president, Tim Clark, stated that the airline provided 12,000 hotel rooms and 250,000 meal vouchers to affected customers. However, it will take days to clear the backlog of rebooked passengers.

The UAE has been grappling with the aftermath of the flooding, with roads between Dubai and Abu Dhabi still partially underwater. In Abu Dhabi, some supermarkets and restaurants faced product shortages as deliveries from Dubai were disrupted.

Researchers have linked extreme weather events like Tuesday’s storm to climate change, warning of higher temperatures, increased humidity, and a greater risk of flooding in the Gulf region. The lack of drainage infrastructure in countries like the UAE puts them at particular risk of flooding.

As the UAE works to recover from the impact of the storm, both airlines are back to operating at full capacity, ensuring travelers can resume their journeys without further disruptions.