Air travel between the UAE and the United States has been disrupted after a fast-developing nor’easter triggered a blizzard warning for the US east coast. Emirates and Etihad Airways have canceled and rescheduled multiple flights to and from New York, Newark and Boston as heavy snow and strong winds threaten airport operations.Meteorologists warned the storm could bring one to two feet of snow to major cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. Snowstorms and high winds are expected to affect the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor, causing severe travel disruptions. More than an inch of snow per hour is expected to fall in parts of the region, and the National Weather Service is warning that travel conditions will be nearly impossible and power outages are possible. New York City is bracing for its first snowstorm since 2016.
Emirates flight cancellations
Emirates confirms it has canceled four flights:
- EK203 from Dubai to New York (JFK) on February 22
- EK204 flew from New York (JFK) to Dubai on February 23
Emirates reschedules flights
Several other services have also been adjusted due to changing weather conditions.
- EK202 will now depart from New York (JFK) at 6:00 pm local time on February 22 and arrive in Dubai at 3:25 pm on February 23.
- EK201 will depart Dubai at 2:30 pm on February 23 and arrive in New York (JFK) at 7:55 pm local time.
- EK206 will depart from New York (JFK) at 8:00 pm local time on February 22 and arrive in Milan at 9:35 am on February 23.
Emirates advises passengers affected by flight cancellations to contact their travel agent to rebook. Passengers who booked directly with the airline are asked to contact Emirates for assistance. Passengers whose flights are rescheduled and connecting through Dubai will be automatically rebooked to their final destination.The airline urges passengers to check flight status regularly and ensure they update their contact details via the Manage Your Booking service to receive timely notifications. Emirates apologized for the disruption and said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways also confirmed flight cancellations and schedule changes.Services canceled on February 23 include:
- EY1 from Abu Dhabi(AUH) to New York(JFK)
- EY2 from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH)
- EY7 from Abu Dhabi(AUH) to Boston(BOS)
- EY8 from Boston (BOS) to Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Rescheduled services include:
- EY4 will fly from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) on February 22 and will depart four hours earlier at 6:00 pm local time.
- The EY3 flight from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New York (JFK) on February 23 is now delayed by approximately 5 hours, and was originally scheduled to depart at 2:40 pm local time (instead of 9:40 am) and arrive at 8:25 pm local time instead of 3:25 pm
Etihad Airways said further changes may occur depending on weather conditions. We will assist affected passengers to rebook or provide refunds upon request. Passengers are advised to monitor flight status updates and ensure that their contact details are up to date via the airline’s website.The storm is expected to affect several airlines operating along the U.S. East Coast. Heavy, wet snow can cause significant airport delays, flight diversions and cancellations. Authorities are warning residents to prepare for hazardous conditions as the system approaches.For Emirati travelers traveling to and from the United States, airlines recommend checking status regularly and communicating with booking agents at the earliest opportunity to manage rebooking options as the situation develops.
