Emirates flights to US disrupted by snowstorm

Flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been delayed or cancelled as the Eastern Seaboard in the United States braces for severe snow storms.

Emirates Airline's aircraft arrives from Dubai at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Kamil Krzaczynski/ EPA

ABU DHABI // Flights from the UAE to the United States will be affected by severe snow storms on Monday and Tuesday, airlines have announced.

Emirates Airline flights to and from New York were among the ones affected so far and the carrier said it was closely monitoring the situation.

Passengers were advised to check Emirates' website regularly for updates.

Flight EK202 from New York to Dubai on Monday departed earlier than scheduled. Passengers who were unable to make the flight were to be rebooked on the same flight on Tuesday.

Flights EK205/EK206 between Milan and New York on Monday were cancelled. Passengers will be rebooked to travel on Tuesday while the EK205/EK206 service will continue as scheduled between Dubai and Milan.

Emirates’ flights to Boston will operate as scheduled at this time and flights to New York on Tuesday remain as scheduled, subject to weather developments.

The airline said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Flights from Abu Dhabi were also affected.

Etihad Airways’ flight EY103 from Abu Dhabi to New York on Tuesday was cancelled due to heavy snow. As a consequence, flight EY102 from New York to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday was also cancelled.

A spokesman said the airline is continuing to monitor the weather conditions and has contingency plans in-place should there be any disruption to its remaining flight schedule.

"The airline has commenced assisting all affected passengers and advising them of itinerary changes," he said. "Concerned passengers are advised to contact the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on [phone] or visit etihad.com for more information."

Meanwhile, early on Monday six flights were delayed at the Kuwait International Airport and another 21 were diverted to neighbouring airports as thick fog engulfed the country, bringing the airport’s operations to a standstill due to poor horizontal vision.

Saleh Al Fadagi, head of operations at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Kuwait, told the national news agency KUNA in a statement that air traffic returned to normal at 7.45am.

The Eastern Seaboard of the US is bracing for what is said to be a historic blizzard.