Emirates Airline President, Sir Tim Clark, has shared an open letter to the airlines customers offering an apology for the disruption caused to travel plans as a result of the severe weather conditions experienced on Tuesday 16 April across the UAE.
In the letter, shared across Emirates social media platforms, Sir Tim Clark begins with, "This week has been one of the toughest for Emirates operationally, as record storms hit the United Arab Emirates. I would like to offer our most sincere apologies to every customer who has had their travel plans disrupted during this time."
The letter continues to explain how though the airlines hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) remained fully open, the weather conditions and flooding that affected the UAE, led to passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and other staff not being able to reach the airport, and supplies required for flights also not being accessible. Over the affected period many flights were diverted and almost 400 cancelled.
The airline focussed on looking after passengers affected by the disruption as well as getting the schedule fully operational.
Over 100 airline staff volunteered to support stranded passengers at DXB, booking over 12,000 hotel rooms, distributing over 250,000 meal vouchers and giving out even higher numbers in terms of other essential items, such as bottled water and blankets.
Sir Tim Clark, in the open letter published on Saturday 20 April, stated that as of that morning, the regular flight schedules were restored, and those passengers who were in the airport transit area of DXB, were rebooked and heading to their destinations.
In the letter Sir Tim Clark to the opportunity to thank the airline staff and partners for the support and their efforts at the time of the storms and the days after.
The full letter can be seen here.