Dubai: Air travel between the UAE, Qatar and the United States continues to face significant disruption as a powerful winter storm impacts the US East Coast, forcing airport closures, widespread delays and flight cancellations on key transatlantic routes.
There were signs of gradual improvement on Monday after the storm moved out of the mid-Atlantic region. US airports and airlines have begun a slow recovery, although delays are expected to persist as operations stabilise. Washington Dulles Airport said flights would resume progressively, with clearer weather forecast and temperatures expected to remain well below freezing.
Latest airline updates
Emirates
Dubai-based Emirates confirmed the cancellation of two New York services scheduled for Monday, January 26. These include flight EK203 from Dubai to New York and EK204 on the return sector. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation, with services on Tuesday expected to operate as planned.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways reported that one Abu Dhabi–New York service operated earlier on Monday but departed with a significant delay. The flight, scheduled to leave at 2.55am, eventually took off at 6.04am and is due to arrive in New York at 11.19am local time.
The airline cautioned that weather conditions remain fluid and further delays or cancellations could be introduced if required. On Sunday, Etihad cancelled all flights to and from New York’s JFK and Washington Dulles airports due to severe weather and airport closures.
Qatar Airways
Flights operated by Qatar Airways into New York are also experiencing extended delays. A Doha–New York service scheduled for a 1.25am departure was pushed back by several hours, with a revised departure time of 10.25am.
American Airlines flight AA8308, operating on the same route, also departed well behind schedule, highlighting the scale of disruption across US airports.
Air India
Air India has cancelled all flights to and from New York and Newark for January 25 and 26, citing forecasts of heavy snowfall across New York, New Jersey and surrounding areas. The airline has yet to confirm its schedule beyond January 26 and has advised passengers to stay updated through official channels.
Aviation analysts warn that knock-on delays could continue even after airports fully reopen, due to aircraft positioning issues, crew duty time limits and congestion at major hubs. Travellers flying between the Gulf and the US are being advised to check flight statuses frequently, expect short-notice changes and allow extra time for rebooking as airlines prioritise safety during the ongoing winter weather.
