Flights from the UAE to Kolkata have been delayed due to the anticipated landfall of Cyclone Dana, which has led to the temporary closure of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Affected flights include an Emirates flight and an Etihad Airways flight, with both carriers rescheduling their departures to ensure passenger and crew safety amidst severe weather warnings.
Emirates confirmed an eight-hour delay for Flight EK570, initially scheduled to depart from Dubai at 2:05 am on Friday, October 25. “The flight is now scheduled to depart at 10:00 am Dubai time on October 25,” an Emirates spokesperson told Khaleej Times, adding, “We apologise for the inconvenience, but passenger safety is our priority.”
Etihad Airways also announced delays. Flight EY258 from Abu Dhabi to Kolkata, scheduled for Thursday, will be postponed along with its return flight, EY259, from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi on October 25. “Etihad Airways is monitoring the situation closely and will provide regular updates,” an Etihad spokesperson stated. Flydubai reported no scheduled flights to Kolkata on Thursday evening.
As a precaution, Indian authorities suspended operations at Kolkata International Airport for 15 hours, starting at 6:00 pm on Thursday. Nearly 1.5 million people in the cyclone’s projected path in Odisha and West Bengal are being evacuated as a preventive measure against expected severe conditions.
