Flights due to leave Dubai for Manila were cancelled on Tuesday due to a powerful typhoon tearing across the northern Philippines.
Typhoon Kammuri made landfall on the country’s largest island, Luzon, on Monday, bringing winds of almost 215km per hour and torrential rains.
Kanmuri was expected to reach Manila by the early afternoon on Tuesday. Flights were suspended at the capital’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport for 12 hours from 11am to 11pm local time ahead of its approach.
In response to the storm, Emirates cancelled two outbound and two inbound flights - EK332/333 and EK334/335 - to Manila.
Additionally, four Etihad flights - EY424 and EY428 from Abu Dhabi to Manila - and the return flights EY423 and EY421 from Manila to Abu Dhabi, were subject to delays.
A spokesperson for Emirates said customers who wanted to rebook their flights should contact an Emirates booking office or travel agent for options.
Etihad Airways said it was monitoring the situation, adding that affected guests would be assisted with their onward connections.
“We regret the inconvenience caused by these delays," a spokesman said. "The safety of our guests and crew is Etihad Airways’ highest priority.
“For further information, please call the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666, visit etihad.com, or our mobile app.
"Guests in the Philippines can contact our local contact centre on 02 7792 6044 for further information.”
Typhoons can hit the Philippines at any time of year, but occur most often between June and September.
The country typically experiences around 20 a year, with the deadliest on record being the Haiphong typhoon, which killed an estimated 20,000 people when it made landfall in the Philippines in 1881.
