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No diversion of flights from Abu Dhabi airport

The rescheduling of flights was the responsibility of airlines, he said.

Regarding the accommodation of passengers who will be arriving on transit visas, Chupeau said, "As the flights have been rescheduled, we don't think there will be major disruptions. Moreover, the airlines which operate from ADIA are well-practised in dealing with their passengers and arranging for their accommodations as well.

"Our all machinery have been pressed into service to minimise the disruption. It is not that only in Abu Dhabi this is happening, it is a normal practice at airports around the world, sometimes for bad weather conditions and sometimes for maintenance works." Chupeau said around 38 airlines have been operating at the ADIA. "We are working with the airlines relentlessly to minimise the disruption and inconvenience to passengers," he said.

According to Etihad Airways' spokesman Leo Seaton, "There will be no diversion of flights. The inbound flights from European countries have already been informed to depart from their destinations before or end of the closure times, which has been chalked out and their timings rescheduled.

"Our offices and agents in European and Western countries are busy approaching customers to inform their itinerary change."

Seaton said the airline did not expect transit passengers to be affected.

Imtiyaz Alam, supervisor at Qatar Airways, a major operator at the ADIA, told Khaleej Times over the phone from Muscat, "During the closure time at the airport, two flights of Qatar Airways, QR121 from Abu Dhabi to Doha, departing at 6.55am and QR125 from Abu Dhabi to Doha departing at 11.40am have been cancelled. Other than this, there is no other disruption or diversion."

"And if any passenger intends to choose the Dubai International Airport as his/her destination, we are ready to accommodate them for on the next available flights without any additional charges. In case, he wishes to return the ticket, we would not charge any cancellation fee as well," Alam said.

Gulf Air public relations manager Adnan Malek said two of the airline's flights from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain, GF548 on July 21 and GF 549 on July 22, had been cancelled.

Two flights on July 22 had been rescheduled with delays of about one hour. Passengers were being contacted and arrangements made.

According to K. Laxman, manager of Air-India in Abu Dhabi, said, "There is no cancellation or diversion of flights. We have rescheduled only one pair of flights - IX 483, Cochin-Mangalore-Muscat-Abu Dhabi at 2.45pm (UAE time) and IX 484, Abu Dhabi-Mangalore-Cochin at 3.30pm (UAE time)."

anwar@khaleejtimes.com

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