Dubai’s major airlines, Emirates and flydubai, have announced the resumption of their full flight schedules following the havoc caused by flood in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries. Operations are reported to be back to normal, although a backlog of passengers remains to be addressed.
The storm, which struck the UAE on Tuesday, led to flash floods and brought travel at Dubai International Airport to a standstill. Flooded taxiways prevented planes from reaching the runway, leaving passengers stranded in the terminal building.
In an open letter posted on the airlines’ website, Sir Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, acknowledged the disruption and apologized to customers for the imperfect response. While regular flight schedules have been restored, clearing the backlog of rebooked passengers and delivering around 30,000 pieces of luggage left behind will take some days.
Passengers affected by the disruption expressed frustration at the chaos witnessed at the airport. Sarah Jane Cahill from Dublin described the scene as “pure chaos,” with thousands stranded and the airport resembling “a sea of bodies on every surface.”
Despite the challenges, both Emirates and flydubai are prioritizing affected passengers, with efforts focused on providing assistance and addressing travel disruptions. Check-in operations have resumed, and departure flow is gradually improving, according to Paul Griffiths, the head of Dubai airports.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s second busiest airport, expects nearly 90 million passengers to pass through its terminals this year. The recent disruptions underscore the resilience required to manage such incidents in a major global transportation hub.
