Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is operating extra flights today (March 7) to help clear the backlog of passengers affected by yesterday’s runway closure during dense fog at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The airline has also drafted hundreds of extra staff across its network to assist passengers whose travel plans were impacted due to the failure of the airport’s runway landing systems.

Flights to destinations across the Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent and Western Europe have already departed today as the flight schedule gradually returns to normal.

Passengers are advised to expect ongoing delays as a result of the large number of flights and passengers affected.

In Abu Dhabi Etihad is providing accommodation for more than a thousand guests who have missed their onward connections.

Meanwhile, the airline also issued an apology to all passengers who were on board flights which had to divert to alternative airports across the GCC region on Thursday morning.

More than 30 flights were diverted, with 14 of those landing at Al Ain Airport. This airport serves as a technical diversion airport only and has limited customs clearance or immigration facilities. As a result, transit passengers or those without visas for the UAE were unable to disembark.

The situation was further compounded by the limited catering facilities at the airport, the airline said in the statement.

Passengers are being assisted with onward connections or hotel accommodation in the case of long connections, it added. – TradeArabia News Service