Just in:
Arvind Kejriwal Gets International Heft Against The Deshi Vishwaguru // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // Infineon and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering jointly develop ship electrification technology // Lisboeta Macau’s world first LINE FRIENDS PRESENTS CASA DE AMIGO and BROWN & FRIENDS CAFE & BISTRO has officially opened // Samsung Partners National Heritage Board to Bring a Slice of Singapore’s Cultural Heritage to Samsung The Frame TV // AI Boost for Galaxy Devices: Samsung Expands One UI 6.1 Update // Superland Announced Annual Results for 2023, 2023 Net Profit Increased approximately 39.5% to approximately HK$22.2 million as Compared to the 2022 Adjusted One // Renewables Surge Sets Record, But Global Equity Lags // Ingdan Announces 2023 Annual Results // Sunshine’s Debut Features Leave Tech World Scratching Its Head // AIA Hong Kong Wins More Than 20 Accolades at MPF Ratings MPF Awards, BENCHMARK MPF of The Year Awards and Bloomberg Businessweek Top Fund Awards // In Lok Sabha Polls In Punjab, AAP Is Advantageously Placed As Against Its Three Rivals // Meta Earth Official Website Launch: The Pioneer Explorer in the Modular Public Blockchain Domain // Emirati Aid Reaches Ukraine as Food Shortages Bite // Party Nominees Refusing To Contest: Major Perception Threat For BJP // Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Hullabaloo About Electoral Bonds May End Up As A Whimper Pre And Post Poll // Sharpening the Focus: Sharjah Health Department Refines Evaluation Criteria for “Healthy Schools Programme” // Hope for Respite as UAE Endorses UN Plea for Gaza Truce // No running of govt from jail, says Delhi Lt Governor //
HomeMiddle EastHow fog has caused recent flight disruptions at UAE airports

How fog has caused recent flight disruptions at UAE airports

1483380503 AR 170109832

DUBAI // Fog has been the cause of flight delays, diversions and cancellations in recent days, which prompts the question, why?

Most people would assume that fog would not pose much of a hindrance to technologically advanced aircraft, but that has been disproved.

ADVERTISEMENT

At Abu Dhabi International Airport on New Year’s Day, three flights were diverted – two were because the pilots were not certified to land in foggy conditions.

The diversions “were at the request of the airline, as the pilot was not certified to land in low visibility conditions”, said a spokeswoman for the airport.

The airport’s CatIIIB landing equipment enables aircraft to land “in very low visibility conditions, minimising disruption to flight schedules”, the spokeswoman said.

However, not all pilots are CatIIIB-certified, so those who are not trained to use it have to seek a diversion to another airport.

On New Year’s Day, there were about 80 flight delays in Abu Dhabi, which were partly the result of the enforcement of safety measures “because of the increased spacing between aircraft due to General Civil Aviation Authority regulations”.

Aircraft that have been diverted are not in the correct location for their next journey, triggering further delays.

“This can have a knock-on effect on our schedule until the planes are brought back in line with their departure and arrival locations and schedules,” the spokeswoman said.

Flight disruptions continued at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Monday because of that.

Dubai Airports said that it was “in recovery mode and focusing on clearing the backlog of flights disrupted as a result of bad weather persisting since December 28”.

There were no new weather-related flight diversions or cancellations at Dubai International Airport on Monday morning or Sunday night, a Dubai Airports spokesman said.

Abu Dhabi Airports reported a few minor delays and one diversion on Monday.

Etihad Airways said a small number of flights departing experienced short delays owing to the fog but there were no cancellations.

An incoming flight from Cochin was diverted to Muscat due to an aircraft technical issue and the fog at Abu Dhabi Airport on Sunday morning, a spokesman said.

Emirates reported no significant delays to operations.

Flydubai, however, experienced about 70 cancellations on Sunday, with the company saying it would continue to monitor the weather and amend its schedule in the hope of returning to normal operations as soon as possible.

There was, however, some good news for Australian families left stranded in Dubai hotels for New Year after a technical problem with their aircraft.

A Qantas spokeswoman said: “Qantas flight QF2 from Dubai to Sydney is due to land in Sydney today [January 2] following a delay due to an engineering issue with the aircraft.

“Throughout this delay our customers were accommodated in hotels and provided with meal vouchers. We thank everyone for their patience.”

The foggy weather also affected fishermen on the UAE’s east coast, causing them to stop work for three days. They have since taken to sea again.

All fishing activities were put on hold on Friday after several vessels collided in the sea because of poor visibility.

Six Asian seamen suffered minor injures and 10 fishing boats were damaged in the early hours of Friday, said the Fujairah Fishermen Association.

The association’s manager said that about 50 fishermen were sailing that day from Fujairah and some were rescued by coastguards.

Salem Obaid, one of the fishermen at sea on Friday, said that visibility was less than 10 metres. “You can see absolutely nothing in front of you. The fog started at about 3.30am and lasted until 9am,” he said.

“My boat was damaged and it will cost me about Dh10,000 to Dh15,000, but some fishermen might have to pay up to Dh40,000 to repair their boats.”

[email protected]

* Additional reporting by Ruba Haza

The National

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
Just in:
Meta Earth Official Website Launch: The Pioneer Explorer in the Modular Public Blockchain Domain // US reiterates concern over Kejriwal arrest, Cong accounts // German Job Market Resilience Bodes Well for Economic Recovery // AI Boost for Galaxy Devices: Samsung Expands One UI 6.1 Update // Emirati Aid Reaches Ukraine as Food Shortages Bite // Konica Minolta is named ASEAN 2023 Market Leader in Colour Light and Mid Digital Production Printers // Arvind Kejriwal Gets International Heft Against The Deshi Vishwaguru // AIA Hong Kong Wins More Than 20 Accolades at MPF Ratings MPF Awards, BENCHMARK MPF of The Year Awards and Bloomberg Businessweek Top Fund Awards // Court Sides with Coinbase on Wallet Service, But Staking Program Remains in Limbo // No running of govt from jail, says Delhi Lt Governor // U.S. Compliance Takes Center Stage at OKX Following Industry Jitters // Sunshine’s Debut Features Leave Tech World Scratching Its Head // Experience Ultimate Shopping Freedom at 4.4 Shopee Spree: Don’t Worry, Shop Shopee! // Andertoons by Mark Anderson for Thu, 28 Mar 2024 // Experts come together to support updating the city’s nature conservation masterplan // Party Nominees Refusing To Contest: Major Perception Threat For BJP // Universal Language for Healthcare: General Authority Embraces Global Coding System // Ajman Celebrates Conclusion of Ramadan Activities with Grand Ceremony // In Lok Sabha Polls In Punjab, AAP Is Advantageously Placed As Against Its Three Rivals // Lisboeta Macau’s world first LINE FRIENDS PRESENTS CASA DE AMIGO and BROWN & FRIENDS CAFE & BISTRO has officially opened //