US snowstorm cancels flights from UAE

A number of flights from the UAE bound for the United States have been either cancelled or delayed on Tuesday as snowstorm Stella threatened to unleash heavy snow in the Northeast.

Emirates confirmed that at least 10 flights that were scheduled to depart on Tuesday have been cancelled. Passengers bound for New York, Boston and Newark were among those affected.

At least six Emirates flights, including those bound for Washington DC and Milan in Italy, have also been delayed, as a result.

"Due to the potential impact of winter storm Stella on flight operations at US East Coast airports, several Emirates flights scheduled to operate on 14 March have been delayed or cancelled," the airline said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Etihad also confirmed that flight EY 101 from Abu Dhabi to New York on Tuesday will be upgraded to an Airbus A380 aircraft to accommodate a large number of passengers affected by the flight cancellations.

The upgraded service, however, may encounter some delays, depending on how the winter storm will develop.

“The airline will continue to monitor the weather conditions closely while assisting all affected passengers and advising them of itinerary changes,” the airline said in a statement.

In the United States, at least 2,800 flights were already cancelled, according to international media reports. Airports affected were those in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and coastal New England.

The storm was expected to hit many parts of the Northeast in the United States   late on Monday through to Tuesday evening and bring inches of snow.

Cancelled flights (March 14):

EK 203 Dubai to New York JFK

EK 204 New York JFK to Dubai

EK 201 Dubai to New York JFK

EK 208 New York JFK to Dubai

EK 239 Dubai to Boston

EK 240 Boston to Dubai

EK 237 Dubai to Boston

EK 238 Boston to Dubai

EK 209 Athens to Newark (Dubai- Athens sector will operate)

EK 210 Newark to Athens (Athens- Dubai sector will operate)

Delayed Flights

EK 231 Dubai to Washington D.C. (originally scheduled to depart at 02.25am, departed at 04.25am local time Dubai)

EK 232 Washington D.C. to Dubai (originally scheduled to depart at 11.10am will now depart at 1.00pm local time Washington D.C.)

EK 205 Milan to New York JFK (originally scheduled to depart at 3.00pm will now depart at 6.00pm local time Milan)

EK 206 New York JFK to Milan (originally scheduled to depart at 10.20pm local time will now depart at 00.00am on 15th March local time New York)

EK 207 Dubai to New York JFK (originally scheduled to depart at 3.00pm will now depart at 5.00pm local time Dubai)

EK 202 New York JFK to Dubai (originally scheduled to depart at 11.45pm will now depart at 1.30am on 15th March local time New York)

source: GULF NEWS