| Kippreport.com

Detained passengers depart UAE

April 23, 2010 8:30 by Katherine Azmeh

After the opening of European airspaces yesterday, thousands of passengers delayed in the UAE have now reached their home countries, according to Friday’s 7DAYS, following a week of travel disruption and lost revenues estimated at AED330 million for Emirates and Etihad.

“Emirates Airline said 37 of its flights departed from Dubai to Europe, including 12 to the UK. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said all its scheduled flights had resumed,” the report said.

Salem Obaidallah, Emirates Airlines’ senior vice president for Europe, reported that his company’s flights to Europe have resumed normal operations, after the week long disruption that cost the airline roughly AED 240 million, and affected around 100,000 customers.

Etihad’s CEO James Hogan noted that all scheduled flights for Thursday were planned for operation, but cautioned passengers to expect altered flight schedules.

Tags: ash cloud, disruption, emirates, etihad, European airspaces, flights to Europe, uae airlines, volcano