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Emirates cancels its Beirut flight

DUBAI — Dubai-based Emirates has cancelled its morning flight to Beirut yesterday following the one-day riot that paralysed Lebanon’s capital on Tuesday. However, other airlines across the UAE, including the Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA), have resumed their flights after a day’s disruption.

A spokesperson for Emirates said “EK 957 to Beirut yesterday morning was cancelled as the situaiton on the ground was uncertain at that time. Passengers booked on the affected flight were contacted and they were re-booked the next available service, or on alternative routings.” Emirates’ transit passengers in Dubai, bound for Beirut, meanwhile were provided hotel accommodation, the spokesperson added. An official statement released by the Dubai-based airline also noted that its evening flight, EK 953, to Beirut left as scheduled yesterday.

Ziad Najjar, Sales Development Manager of MEA, confirmed that they have resumed their flights as the law and order situation in Beirut has been secured. “The strike is over and we have already started our flights between Dubai and Beirut,” he said.

Other carriers like Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia in Sharjah have also resumed their operations to Lebanon’s capital.

“We’re back on track. Having assessed the situation and after finding that the condition is already stable, we have decided to resume our flights today (January 24) between Abu Dhabi and Beirut,” the Etihad spokesperson said. The UAE carrier operates five flights to Beirut every week.

Meanwhile, a source at Air Arabia said that due to the situation, passengers for flight GP 387, who were supposed to leave on January 23, have been re-booked yesterday on board GP 381 at 11.45am.