UAE-India Flights Cancelled Due to Cyclone Threat in Indian State

Photo : Reuters

Cyclone Remal is set to impact the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, causing significant disruptions to flights between the UAE and India on May 26 and 27 (Sunday and Monday). The Kolkata Airport Authority of India has decided to suspend all flight operations for 21 hours, from 12am on May 26 to 9am on May 27, due to the cyclone's expected landfall.

The storm is anticipated to hit West Bengal's coastal region, including Kolkata. "Flight operations are suspended for 21 hours due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kolkata," stated the Kolkata Airport Authority of India.

Etihad Airways has canceled flights EY256 from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Kolkata Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) and return flight EY257 on Sunday, May 26. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the cancellations to Khaleej Times, adding, "We apologize for this disruption, our teams are doing their best to assist the guests with their travel arrangements. The safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our number one priority, and we regret any inconvenience caused by this disruption."

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Flights between Dubai and Kolkata are also affected. Emirates has canceled flights EK 572/573 on May 26 and EK570/571 on May 27. "Impacted customers are being re-accommodated. Emirates urges customers to check their flight status on the Emirates website for the latest information regarding their flights," the airline stated.

Flydubai has confirmed that flights FZ 461/462 between Dubai International (DXB) and CCU on Sunday have been delayed and are now scheduled to operate on Monday, May 27. "We will continue to monitor the weather conditions and update our flight schedule accordingly," flydubai added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe cyclone warning for the northeastern region of India and coastal areas of Bangladesh. The cyclone is projected to make landfall in West Bengal and the coastal regions of Bangladesh around midnight on May 26, significantly impacting areas including the city of Kolkata.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) inspector Zaheer Abbas assured that preparations are in place to handle the cyclone. "If the cyclone hits here, our soldiers are ready to deal with every kind of disaster... Our team is well-equipped. Our team is ready for tree falling or flood rescue etc... We are ready to deal with every situation," Abbas told ANI.

As Cyclone Remal approaches, the suspension of flights and disaster preparedness efforts highlight the proactive measures being taken to ensure safety and minimize disruptions. Travelers are advised to stay updated on flight statuses and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities.