Airport schedules affected as flights diverted
Latest update: An Emirates spokesperson has said: "Severe fog in Dubai on February 22 and 23, 2014, has caused the delay of numerous Emirates flights arriving and departing at Dubai International Airport.
"We are assisting affected passengers with the rebooking of connecting flights.
"Emirates apologises for the inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised."
The airline is urging passengers to check their flight status on the Emirates website for latest updates.
The National Center of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) was still reporting heavy fog in certain pockets in the UAE.
After a Saturday that saw thick fog blanket most of the country, affecting flight schedules and Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, most of the main arterial roads connecting the emirates, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi seemed relatively clear.
The NCMS forecast for the day reported pleasant to moderate weather during the day, with a slight increase in temperature over some areas. The sea was also forecast to be slight to moderate in general.
Flight schedules hit
An Emirates spokesperson confirmed the disruptions due to the fog over the weekend, with the airline accommodating passengers as required.
In a statement to Emirates 24|7, the spokesperson said: "Severe fog in Dubai on 22 February 2014 caused the delay of flights arriving and departing at Dubai International airport.
"Emirates passengers affected by these delays will be accommodated overnight, if required. We are assisting affected passengers with the rebooking of connecting flights."
A total of 14 international flights that were supposed to land at Dubai International Airport on Saturday, were diverted to neighboring airports due to dense fog, Majid Sultan Al Joker, Vice-President, Operations, Dubai Airports, told 'Emarat Al Youm'.
According to the report, some travellers were stuck at the airports for over six hours.
Heavy fog that blanketed Abu Dhabi overnight and in the early hours of Saturday morning disrupted flights at Abu Dhabi international airport, delay the arrival of 11 aircraft from China and Germany by several hours.
Official said four flights from the southwest Chinese town of Chengdu were scheduled to arrive in the afternoon although they had originally due to land just after mid night.
The flights belong to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, Alitalia, Air Berlin and China's Hainan Airlines, they said.
Seven other flights from Frankfurt that were due to land around 7:45 am on Saturday were delayed until afternoon. The flights are operated by Etihad and other airlines.
"Air traffic came to a standstill after midnight and at dawn because of reduced visibility due to dense fog...This is normal and is in line with safety rules enforced by aviation authorities in all countries," an airport official said.
"But traffic returned to normal in mid morning. Some flights, which were due to arrive at noon have landed. Visibility is now back to normal after the fog completely cleared."
Dubai blanket
Heavy fog shrouded Dubai in a mist of near zero visibility on Saturday morning and had not lifted till as late as 8am.
The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) had forecast fog in the night and morning, but few Dubai residents expected it to be as intense as what they were greeted with this morning.
The fog is forecast to give way to pleasant weather during the daytime, with a slight increase in temperature over some areas, according to the NCMS.
Light to moderate winds in general with the sea only slight to moderate in general should make for an overall pleasant Saturday... once the fog lifts.
Dubai Police while not reporting any accidents till 8.40am, did issue a safe driving warning, tweeting: "We call on all drivers to be cautious and to drive safely and leave enough distance between vehicles due to heavy fog and unclear visibility."
In Abu Dhabi, fog reduced visibility to less than 10 metres in the early hours of the morning.
Fog remained blanketing the capital for several hours after dawn, forcing motorists to flash their lights and drive slowly on most roads.
traffic on roads remained light during the morning hours because of the fog and the fact that Saturday is holiday for most establishments in the country.
Police said they have cautioned motorists against driving fast in such hazardous conditions but reported no major accidents in the city of more than one million people.
© Emirates 24|7 2014
