Heavy fog in Abu Dhabi leads to flight cancellations

UAE weather: Heavy fog led to flight delays, cancellations, and diversions over the past two days, Etihad Airways said.

ABU DHABI // Heavy fog caused flight delays, cancellations, and diversions during the past two days, Etihad Airways said.

Yesterday, three return flights heading to to the UAE from Bahrain, Muscat, and Kuwait, were cancelled and an inbound flight was diverted to Al Bateen Airport.

“[The cancellation was] to minimise the impact across the rest of network during the day, with all passengers being re-accommodated on other Etihad services where possible,” an Etihad Airways statement said.

Another 22 early morning arrivals into Abu Dhabi were delayed, as were 45 departures.

On Christmas eve, three return flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, Doha and Muscat were cancelled and 34 early morning arrivals and 30 departures from Abu Dhabi were delayed.

Flights returned to normal at 7pm yesterday.

Etihad Airways said it apologised to its customers “for any inconvenience caused”.

The morning fog cut visibility to just 50 metres in most areas for motorists driving between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology said.