Cyclone disrupts flights from UAE to India

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Cyclone disrupts flights from UAE to India

Dubai - Emirates urged customers to check their flight status on its website for the latest information regarding their flights to the city.

by

Sherouk Zakaria

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Published: Tue 13 Dec 2016, 9:21 PM

A tropical storm that slammed into India's southeast coast caused delays and disruptions of flights to and from the Chennai airport.
An Emirates spokesperson told Khaleej Times that Cyclone Vardah that made landfall close to Chennai coast at a windspeed of up to 140kmph on Monday "has caused diversions and delays of some Emirates flights arriving and departing at Chennai International Airport".
Emirates urged customers to check their flight status on its website for the latest information regarding their flights to the city.
With a high alert issued in several affected districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, flight operations were suspended and educational institutions shut as a precaution.
K. Satyagopal, a senior revenue officer of Tamil Nadu, said two people had lost their lives.
A spokesperson for Etihad Airways said its flights EY238 from Abu Dhabi to Chennai were diverted to Bangalore on Monday due to high winds caused by the tropical cyclone.
Due to further severe weather conditions, three flights from and to Chennai were cancelled. These are: EY239 departing Chennai at 9.20am and arriving at Abu Dhabi at 12.20pm; EY270 departing Abu Dhabi at 2.10pm and arriving at Chennai at 7.40pm; and EY271 departing Chennai at 9.15pm and arriving at Abu Dhabi at 12.15am (on December 13).
Due to these cancellations, two upgraded aircrafts will be brought to accommodate the extra passengers on Monday and Tuesday.
The airline said it is closely monitoring the weather situation in Chennai, which is expected to ease later last night.
"Impacted guests are being informed of itinerary changes and are being assisted and re-accommodated on other airlines where possible to enable them to continue their journey as quickly as possible," said the spokesperson in a statement.
It urged customers to contact the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on + 18 00 223 901 and + 18 00 209 0808 (India) or + 971 (0) 2 599 0000 (UAE) for information on the status of their flights.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com


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