Severe Weather Hits the Middle East with 1250 Flights Scrapped and 241 Delayed; Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and FlyDubai Ground Operations Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh – What Travelers Must Know About Affected Routes and Recovery Plans

Severe Weather Hits the Middle East with 1250 Flights Scrapped and 241 Delayed; Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and FlyDubai Ground Operations Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh – What Travelers Must Know About Affected Routes and Recovery Plans

Severe Weather Hits the Middle East with 1250 Flights Scrapped and 241 Delayed; Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and FlyDubai Ground Operations Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh – What Travelers Must Know About Affected Routes and Recovery Plans

Severe weather has caused widespread disruption across the Middle East, with over 1250 flights scrapped and 241 delayed. This chaos has hit major airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and FlyDubai, who have been forced to ground their operations across key cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh. Passengers are facing massive delays, cancellations, and confusion as stormy weather continues to affect flights in and out of these major hubs. The ongoing weather disturbances are making it challenging for airlines to recover their schedules, leaving travelers stranded and uncertain about their next steps. The disruption is widespread, impacting not just international travel, but also regional flights connecting cities within the Middle East. In this article, we will explore what travelers must know about the affected routes, the cities facing major delays, and the recovery plans set in motion by the airlines to restore normal operations.

Number of Flights Cancelled: A Close Look at Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and FlyDubai

According to the latest reports, all four airlines have seen numerous cancellations throughout their networks. These disruptions have primarily been caused by adverse weather conditions, such as heavy snow, thunderstorms, and severe winds, which have hampered airport operations and flight schedules across several countries in Asia.

Qatar Airways has been one of the hardest-hit airlines, with numerous flights across Europe and the Middle East delayed or cancelled, significantly affecting passenger flow. Emirates and FlyDubai, both based in Dubai, also experienced a considerable number of cancellations, particularly on routes serving regions vulnerable to turbulent weather. Etihad Airways, with its extensive network across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond, also had several of its services grounded.

Key Data on Flight Cancellations

Qatar Airways: A total of 20 flights were cancelled on Thursday alone, affecting routes primarily between Doha and major cities like Istanbul, Cairo, and Kuala Lumpur. The cancellations were mostly due to reduced visibility and severe weather conditions in these regions.

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure Time

QTR963B788Ngurah Rai/Bali Intl (DPS / WADD)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 07:00PM WITA

QTR240A332Istanbul Airport (IST / LTFM)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 02:00PM +03

QTR1120A320Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Sharjah Int’l (SHJ / OMSJ)Thu 02:10PM +03

QTR245A332Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Istanbul Airport (IST / LTFM)Thu 02:15PM +03

QTR1304B77WCairo Int’l (CAI / HECA)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 01:15PM EET

QTR1169A359King Khalid Int’l (RUH / OERK)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 02:20PM +03

QTR1050A320Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 02:25PM +03

QTR1316A320Alexandria International Airport (HBE / HEAX)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 01:25PM EET

QTR207A320Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Athens Int’l, Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH / LGAV)Thu 02:30PM +03

QTR1228A320Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Ha’il Regional (HAS / OEHL)Thu 02:30PM +03

QTR936B788Mactan-Cebu Int’l (CEB / RPVM)Francisco Bangoy Int’l (DVO / RPMD)Thu 07:35PM PST

QTR1072B788Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Kuwait Int’l (KWI / OKKK)Thu 02:40PM +03

QTR1301B77WHamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Cairo Int’l (CAI / HECA)Thu 02:55PM +03

QTR1364B789OR Tambo Int’l (JNB / FAOR)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 01:55PM SAST

QTR899B77WBrisbane (BNE / YBBN)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 10:05PM AEST

QTR647B789Tribhuvan Int’l (KTM / VNKT)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 05:50PM +0545

QTR835A388Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int’l (BKK / VTBS)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 07:05PM +07

QTR499A320Imam Khomeini Int’l (IKA / OIIE)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 03:40PM +0330

QTR23B789Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Manchester (MAN / EGCC)Thu 03:15PM +03

QTR977A35KNoi Bai Int’l (HAN / VVNB)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 07:20PM +07

Emirates: Emirates cancelled 20 flights due to bad weather conditions across the Middle East and Europe. Flights from Dubai to European destinations, such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Manchester, were heavily impacted, causing widespread disruptions.

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure Time

UAE75A388Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Charles de Gaulle/Roissy (CDG / LFPG)Thu 03:00PM +04

UAE37B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Birmingham Int’l (BHX / EGBB)Thu 03:00PM +04

UAE9878B772Al Maktoum Int’l (DWC / OMDW)Shanghai Pudong Int’l (PVG / ZSPD)Thu 03:05PM +04

UAE435A388Brisbane (BNE / YBBN)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 09:05PM AEST

UAE923A388Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Cairo Int’l (CAI / HECA)Thu 03:10PM +04

UAE61B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Hamburg (HAM / EDDH)Thu 03:10PM +04

UAE365A359Tan Son Nhat Int’l (SGN / VVTS)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 06:10PM +07

UAE514B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Indira Gandhi Int’l (DEL / VIDP)Thu 03:20PM +04

UAE47A388Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Frankfurt Int’l (FRA / EDDF)Thu 03:25PM +04

UAE91A388Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Malpensa Int’l (MXP / LIMC)Thu 03:25PM +04

UAE721B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Jomo Kenyatta Int’l (NBO / HKJK)Thu 03:30PM +04

UAE149A388Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)Thu 03:30PM +04

UAE707B77WSeychelles Int’l (SEZ / FSIA)Ivato Int’l (TNR / FMMI)Thu 03:30PM +04

UAE9919B772Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport (NLU / MMSM)Mariscal Sucre Int’l (UIO / SEQM)Thu 05:30AM CST

UAE762B77WOR Tambo Int’l (JNB / FAOR)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 01:35PM SAST

UAE652B77WMale Int’l (MLE / VRMM)Bandaranaike Int’l (CMB / VCBI)Thu 04:35PM +05

UAE125B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Vienna Int’l (Schwechat) (VIE / LOWW)Thu 03:50PM +04

UAE953B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Beirut Air Base/Rafic Hariri Int’l (Beirut Int’l) (BEY / OLBA)Thu 03:50PM +04

UAE773B77WCape Town Int’l (CPT / FACT)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 01:50PM SAST

UAE508B77WDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Chatrapati Shivaji Int’l (BOM / VABB)Thu 03:50PM +04

Etihad Airways: 20 flights were cancelled, affecting connections primarily between Abu Dhabi and cities in Asia, including Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Weather conditions around key hubs caused significant delays.

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure Time

ETD391A321Bandaranaike Int’l (CMB / VCBI)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 04:30PM +0530

ETD237A21NBengaluru Int’l (BLR / VOBL)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 04:30PM IST

ETD857A320Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Adler-Sochi Int’l (AER / URSS)Thu 03:00PM +04

ETD215A320Indira Gandhi Int’l (DEL / VIDP)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 04:30PM IST

ETD475B789Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int’l (CGK / WIII)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 06:10PM WIB

ETD542A21NIstanbul Airport (IST / LTFM)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 02:10PM +03

ETD333A320Cochin Int’l (Kochi Int’l) (COK / VOCI)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 04:45PM IST

ETD871B789Hong Kong Int’l (HKG / VHHH)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 07:45PM HKT

ETD889B789Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX / ZBAD)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 07:55PM CST

ETD594A21NBen Gurion Int’l (TLV / LLBG)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 02:20PM IST

ETD667A320Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 04:45PM +04

ETD632A321Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz (MED / OEMA)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 03:50PM +03

ETD437A21NTecho International (KTI / VDTI)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 08:00PM +07

ETD431B789Noi Bai Int’l (HAN / VVNB)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 08:10PM +07

ETD656A320Kuwait Int’l (KWI / OKKK)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 04:35PM +03

ETD74B789Manchester (MAN / EGCC)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 01:50PM GMT

ETD407B77WSuvarnabhumi Bangkok Int’l (BKK / VTBS)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 08:50PM +07

ETD425A21NKrabi (KBV / VTSG)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 08:50PM +07

ETD487B789Kuala Lumpur Int’l (KUL / WMKK)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 09:50PM +08

ETD695A320Seeb Int’l (MCT / OOMS)Abu Dhabi Int’l (AUH / OMAA)Thu 06:00PM +04

FlyDubai: The airline saw 20 cancellations on its shorter regional routes, including services between Dubai and cities such as Muscat, Kabul, and Tashkent.

IdentTypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeFDB1634B38MMinsk Int’l (MSQ / UMMS)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:00PM +03FDB1125B38MDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Ben Gurion Int’l (TLV / LLBG)Thu 03:00PM +04FDB905B38MDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Prince Abdulmajeed Bin Abdulaziz (ULH / OEAO)Thu 03:05PM +04FDB1212B39MBen Gurion Int’l (TLV / LLBG)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 01:10PM ISTFDB928B38MRed Sea International Airport (RSI / OERS)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:15PM +03FDB881B38MDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Tabuk Regional (TUU / OETB)Thu 03:20PM +04FDB912B38MNajran Domestic (EAM / OENG)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:25PM +03FDB752B738Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int’l (SAW / LTFJ)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:30PM +03FDB340B38MMultan Int’l (MUX / OPMT)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 04:40PM PKTFDB874B38MTa’if Regional (TIF / OETF)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:45PM +03FDB618B738Djibouti-Ambouli Int’l (JIB / HDAM)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:45PM EATFDB1636B738Ben Gurion Int’l (TLV / LLBG)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 02:00PM ISTFDB17B38MDubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)Thu 04:05PM +04FDB1296B38MGalileo Galilei (Pisa Int’l) (PSA / LIRP)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 01:05PM CETFDB1289B738Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Moi Int’l (MBA / HKMO)Thu 04:10PM +04FDB1946B738Tashkent International (TAS / UZTT)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 05:20PM +05FDB1746B38MBelgrade Nikola Tesla Int’l (BEG / LYBE)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 01:25PM CETFDB308B38MKabul Int’l (KBL / OAKB)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 05:00PM +0430FDB1687B38MZanzibar (ZNZ / HTZA)Dar es Salaam (DAR / HTDA)Thu 03:31PM EATFDB56B38MKuwait Int’l (KWI / OKKK)Dubai Int’l (DXB / OMDB)Thu 03:40PM +03

These cancellations have left thousands of passengers stranded, disrupting travel plans for both leisure and business travelers. Travelers now face long waits, significant rescheduling efforts, and additional accommodation expenses.

Key Airports Affected

The key airports affected by these cancellations include major international hubs, as severe weather grounded flights and caused widespread delays:

Qatar Airways:

Hamad International Airport (DOH), Qatar’s main hub, experienced significant disruption. The cancellations affected flights to destinations such as Istanbul, Cairo, and Kuala Lumpur.

Istanbul Airport (IST): Affected by the ongoing weather disruptions, leading to a high number of cancellations of inbound and outbound flights.

Sharjah International Airport (SHJ): Flights to and from Sharjah were affected as weather conditions caused visibility issues, delaying operations.

Emirates:

Dubai International Airport (DXB): The airline’s main hub saw extensive cancellations, particularly affecting flights to European cities such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Manchester.

Frankfurt International Airport (FRA): Bad weather and winds led to flight delays, causing many of Emirates’ European-bound flights to be cancelled or diverted.

Manchester Airport (MAN): The cancellation of flights to and from Manchester was primarily due to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.

Etihad Airways:

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH): The airline’s main base saw several cancellations, particularly affecting routes to South Asia and Hong Kong due to poor visibility and strong winds.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL): Severe thunderstorms led to significant delays and cancellations.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG): Poor weather conditions near Hong Kong disrupted multiple Etihad flights.

FlyDubai:

Dubai International Airport (DXB): As expected, FlyDubai faced flight cancellations originating from Dubai, impacting regional routes to countries like Oman and Afghanistan.

Muscat International Airport (MCT): Regional weather disruptions resulted in cancelled flights to and from Muscat, affecting business and leisure travelers alike.

Tashkent International Airport (TAS): Flights to and from Tashkent were cancelled due to strong winds and thunderstorms.

Key Areas Affected Due to the Cancellations

The impact of the cancellations has been felt across multiple regions, both in terms of passenger inconvenience and the disruption of local tourism:

Qatar Airways:

Middle East: Qatar, being a hub in the Middle East, saw many passengers stranded, especially those transiting through Doha.

Europe: Flights to major cities in Europe were affected, causing widespread delays for European travelers and significant cancellations of connections between Europe and Asia.

Emirates:

Europe: Major airports in Europe, including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Manchester, were among the hardest hit, leaving European travelers stranded or rebooked on later flights.

Middle East: Many travelers in the Middle East were left stranded due to cancellations from Dubai, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Etihad Airways:

South Asia: India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia saw several of their outbound flights from Abu Dhabi cancelled. Delays in Mumbai and Hong Kong disrupted the flow of passengers.

Middle East: Passengers traveling between Abu Dhabi and the Middle East saw delays due to adverse weather conditions affecting major airports.

FlyDubai:

Middle East: FlyDubai’s flights serving Oman and Afghanistan were impacted by unpredictable weather conditions, especially around Dubai and Muscat.

Central Asia: Central Asia was heavily affected, particularly with FlyDubai’s routes to Tashkent, Kabul, and Multan, where airport operations were severely hampered by adverse weather.

Impact on Passengers

The passengers have faced substantial disruptions, leading to a loss of valuable time and additional costs. Many travelers have been stranded at airports for extended hours, while others have experienced missed connections. For some, the uncertainty around their travel plans has meant a reworking of entire itineraries.

Uncertainty: The lack of clear communication from airlines about the rescheduling of flights has caused confusion and frustration among passengers.

Accommodation: Many travelers had to bear additional accommodation costs while waiting for rebooked flights.

Business and Leisure: Business travelers faced major setbacks due to flight cancellations that impacted their meetings and events, while holidaymakers had to cancel or delay their vacation plans, leading to economic losses in the local tourism sector.

Impact on Local Tourism

The cancellations have had a considerable impact on local tourism, particularly in Asia’s most popular tourist destinations:

Qatar Airways:

Qatar’s tourism sector, which heavily relies on transit travelers through Doha, has seen a significant drop in passenger numbers.

In Istanbul, the popular tourist destination also faced disruptions, leading to potential losses for businesses dependent on international tourism.

Emirates:

With flights to Dubai—one of the world’s leading tourist hubs—being affected, the local tourism economy in the UAE has been hit hard.

European visitors, who are a major segment of Dubai’s tourism, faced delays in their holiday schedules, potentially costing the UAE millions in lost tourism revenue.

Etihad Airways:

Abu Dhabi, a rising hub for cultural tourism, faced cancellations that affected the influx of international tourists.

As a destination that heavily markets itself as a luxury hub, the delays and cancellations have disrupted luxury tourism plans in Abu Dhabi.

FlyDubai:

FlyDubai’s short-haul flights to regional markets such as Muscat and Kabul are an integral part of local tourism. The cancellations caused significant problems for business travelers and holidaymakers alike.

Positive Outlook: How the Tourism Industry Can Bounce Back

Despite the setbacks caused by weather-related cancellations, the tourism industry in affected regions can still recover. Airlines, airports, and tourism boards are now more focused than ever on improving their contingency plans for extreme weather events. Enhanced communication strategies, quicker rebooking systems, and more comprehensive insurance policies for travelers are just a few ways the industry is adapting.

A Resilient Industry Ready for a Strong Comeback

Airlines are focusing on building more robust systems to cope with weather disruptions, and the industry as a whole is embracing technology to keep passengers informed. Moreover, local businesses are ramping up efforts to boost tourism through targeted campaigns and new attractions, ensuring that travelers return with a renewed sense of confidence in the safety and reliability of their travel options.

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