ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new southern runway is equipped with the latest technology that allows aircraft to land in adverse weather conditions, but reduced visibility in heavy fog continues to cause disruption to services and travellers’ plans.
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports have experienced delays and cancellations recently, and aircraft were diverted to other airports.
Fog caused the runways at Abu Dhabi International Airport to be closed at 7.30am on December 29.
The previous week, the airport reopened its southern runway, equipped with new technology to keep the airport open in adverse weather conditions, including fog.
Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operations officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “The new runway features a technology that allows aircraft to land in challenging conditions such as in poor visibility caused by thick fog, which is a common problem in Abu Dhabi.
“However, as per civil aviation regulations, when the visibility is below 100 metres, we have to suspend our operations,” he said.
“The system works perfectly when it’s above 100 metres.”
Thick fog shrouded the city on Saturday morning, causing disruptions to all flights as Abu Dhabi Airport was forced to close at 2.30am. It reopened at 3.40am and resumed runway operations.
Etihad Airways diverted seven inbound flights to three local airports and delayed the arrival and departure of other services.
Diverted flights proceeded to the capital’s main airport after the runways reopened.
A spokesman for the airline said on Saturday night that 20 return flights had been cancelled, with a number of flights subject to changes in flight time.
After a major restructuring of operations overnight congestion at the airport has eased, with many disrupted services departing and delayed inbound services arriving in the UAE capital on Sunday.
rruiz@thenational.ae
