Yahoo News Newcastle Airport to Dubai flight delayed as UAE hit with year's rainfall in a day
Passengers travelling from Newcastle to Dubai are facing delays following heavy rainfall in the United Arab Emirates.
The desert was hit by the heaviest rain ever recorded and the deluge flooded Dubai International Airport, disrupting flights through the world's busiest hub for international travel. Airline Emirates has suspended check-in for customers travelling from Dubai but passengers travelling to the country are also being hit with delays.
Flight EK 036 that was due to depart Newcastle International Airport for Dubai today (April 17) at 2.05pm has been delayed until 5.50pm.
A spokesperson for Emirate said: "Emirates is suspending check-in for passengers departing Dubai effective 08:00hrs on 17 April until midnight (00:00hrs 18 April), due to operational challenges caused by bad weather and road conditions.
"Affected customers can contact their booking agent or Emirates contact centre for rebooking. Passengers arriving in Dubai and already in transit will continue to be processed for their flights. Customers can expect delays to departures and arrivals, and are advised to check the latest flight schedules on emirates.com.
"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Emirates is working hard to restore our scheduled operations, and our teams will provide all possible support to affected customers."
At the Dubai airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. Arrivals were halted on Tuesday night, and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.
On Wednesday morning, people were being asked not to come to Dubai airport unless "absolutely necessary". Flights were being delayed or diverted and passengers were being urged to contact their airlines to check their flight status.
Dubai International Airport said on social media: "We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary. Flights continue to be delayed and diverted. Please check your flight status directly with your airline. We are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions."
The state-run WAM news agency called Tuesday's rain "a historic weather event" that surpassed "anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949".
The rain, which also fell in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, began late on Monday, soaking the sands and roads of Dubai with some 0.8in (20mm) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport. The storms intensified at around 9am local time on Tuesday and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain and hail on the overwhelmed city.
By the end of Tuesday, more than 5.6in (142mm) of rain had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 3.7in (94.7mm) of rain at Dubai International Airport, a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates, which also flies in and out of Newcastle International Airport.
