Login
Emirates Adjusts Flights Amid Severe Winter Storm Impacting New York
Emirates airline recently announced a few flight cancellations and schedule changes as a strong winter storm has hit the U.S. The storm is also affecting Newark and Kennedy International and the other major airports in New York as well.
Early Departures and Altered Schedules
On December 26, the airline adjusted its flight schedules to preemptively avoid the expected disruptions caused by the storm. Emirates flights EK202 from JFK to Dubai and EK206 from JFK to Milan both departed earlier than originally scheduled. EK202, which was set to leave at 11:00 PM, was rescheduled to 6:00 PM, arriving in Dubai at 3:25 PM on December 27. Similarly, EK206, originally scheduled for a 10:20 PM departure, took off at 7:30 PM, reaching Milan at 9:05 AM on December 27.
Cancellations Due to Weather Conditions
Several flights were outright cancelled due to the adverse weather. Emirates confirmed the cancellation of EK209, which involved travel between Athens and Newark. While the Dubai to Athens leg of the flight operated normally, the subsequent Athens to Newark portion was cancelled. Likewise, EK210, which connects Newark to Athens, was also cancelled, though the Athens to Dubai leg continued as scheduled.
Travelers affected by these changes are advised to get in touch with their travel agents for rebooking or directly contact Emirates if they booked with the airline.
Travelers Urged to Stay Updated
As the storm continues to affect flights, Emirates urges passengers departing from New York to check the status of their flights regularly. The airline recommends that travelers verify and update their contact details to receive the latest notifications through the βManage Your Bookingβ section on Emiratesβ website.
Widespread Disruptions Across the U.S.
The winter storm has caused significant disruptions to air travel across the U.S., especially during the peak holiday travel season. FlightAware reported that more than 1,600 flights were cancelled, and over 7,400 flights faced delays. New York, along with cities like Boston, Chicago, and Toronto, has seen its airports heavily impacted, with JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia among the hardest hit. Together, New Yorkβs three major airports alone accounted for approximately 850 flight cancellations.
Forecasted Snowfall in New York
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the New York area, forecasting up to 9 inches (23 cm) of snow. New York City itself was bracing for as much as 10 inches (25 cm) of snowβits heaviest accumulation in four years. Additionally, an Arctic blast from Canada is expected to drop temperatures even further, leading to hazardous travel conditions that could persist well into the weekend.
Airlines and Airlines Urge Caution
Several other major U.S. carriers, including Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines, also reported extensive cancellations due to the storm. At the time of writing, Delta had cancelled 241 flights, JetBlue 229, and Southwest 151, among others. Both American Airlines and United Airlines saw approximately 100 cancellations each.
Travel Advisory Issued
New York Governor Kathy Hochul gave advice to the people of New York to avoid travel unless completely necessary. Travel is expected to take a long time due to a major snowstorm. Snow is beginning to accumulate, which may trigger the activation of snowplough units along with city crews. New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have also posted similar travel alerts as the storm makes its way across the northeast.
On the western side of the country, a major rainstorm that closed Santa Barbara Airport for part of the week also caused flooding in some northern California areas. They were able to open the airport by Friday.
Image Caution: The photo is AI-generated and is only for illustration purposes.
