Most flights rescheduled

ABU DHABI - Travel agents, airline offices and web sites have been inundated with enquiries about flight changes due to Abu Dhabi International Airport closure tomorrow. Maintenance of the airport’s runway has forced the facility to close for 12 hours from 2.15am to 2.15pm, rescheduling more than 100 flights.

Etihad Airways' spokesperson Thomas Clarke said the airline was informed last Wednesday of the closure and has now contacted 80 per cent of its passengers and the majority of airlines.

The airline logged more than 3,000 hits on a dedicated page on its web site.

Most travel agents in Abu Dhabi and Dubai said flight arrangements had been smooth for passengers with no cancellations noted. “The person who has planned to go, he has to go with any available flight. That is why, nobody is asking for cancellation of tickets, said, Kanwal Jit Singh, manager at Omeir Travel Agency, a big chain of air ticketing in the country, in Abu Dhabi’s Hamdan Street.

Some people ask to re-book tickets from Dubai International Airport and one agent suggested Emirates airline would gain some passengers. Santosh of Al Rustamani Travels of Abu Dhabi said: “We received lots of enquiries from travellers.

"We have around seven customer care assistants and every one is getting 7-10 enquiry calls every day.

“Mostly we are rescheduling the tickets and reroute them from Dubai. We don’t levy any additional charge for it.”

Net Group Abu Dhabi manager Anwar Abu Monasar said the closure would affect their business.

“Owing to closure of the Abu Dhabi International Airport on Tuesday, we received many calls from our customers for change of their itinerary. And of course, because of three-day disruption of flights our business would be affected.”

Net Group Al Ain manager Hissam Aga said its travellers had not cancelled any flights and incoming business to Al Ain would not be affected.

“During summer time, particularly in June, July and August, the number of visitors is very few.

“And our peak season is October and November and most of our customers are from the European countries," Aga said.

zoe@khaleejtimes.com and anwar@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE