Etihad Airways Statement - Operational Disruption

NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Etihad Airways expects to operate a normal flight schedule by tomorrow (Tuesday 6 January 2015), as operations are restored following the major disruptions caused by severe weather over the weekend.

It is also operating four additional relief flights, Jakarta and Jeddah today (Monday 5 January), and Bangkok and Phuket tomorrow (Tuesday 6 January) which will assist passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted.

It is expected that more than 95 per cent of passengers delayed by the severe fog, which caused the closure of Abu Dhabi International Airport, will have departed Abu Dhabi by tomorrow morning, with the remainder having departed by the end of the day.

Efforts have been helped by passengers originally scheduled to travel today and tomorrow (5 and 6 January), who took advantage of Etihad Airways' offer of free flight changes, to shift travel plans to later in January.

Etihad Airways mobilised more than 500 additional staff at the airport and city locations over the weekend, to assist guests stuck in Abu Dhabi as a result of the fog.  The airline served more than 15,000 meals to guests at the airport, and provided more than 2,000 hotel rooms across the city.

The airline has announced it is to review its policies on the length of time aircraft can remain on the ground, with passengers aboard, while waiting for a take-off slot. 

Whilst the departure of passengers to their onward destinations was a priority over the weekend, it has acknowledged customer concerns and has committed to a review of its procedures as soon as is feasible.

Abu Dhabi International Airport had to suspend operations for a period on 3 January 2015, as visibility fell below General Civil Aviation Authority-mandated safety limits.

Etihad Airways apologises to its guests for any inconvenience caused as a result of this airport closure, for mandated safety reasons, and thanks them for their patience during these extremely challenging few days.

SOURCE Etihad Airways Corporate Communications