Major UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways have implemented widespread flight cancellations and schedule adjustments in response to a severe winter storm currently impacting the northeastern United States. The decision comes as meteorological authorities issue blizzard warnings for New York, Newark, and multiple states along the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor.
The rapidly intensifying storm system is forecast to deliver substantial snowfall accumulation accompanied by gale-force winds, creating potentially hazardous travel conditions across major metropolitan areas including Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C. The National Weather Service headquarters warned of snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour along parts of the East Coast, predicting these conditions would result in ‘near-impossible travel circumstances’ and possible widespread power outages.
Emirates Airlines cancelled four specific flight routes connecting Dubai with New York’s JFK Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport via Athens. The affected flights include EK203/204 and EK209/210 scheduled for February 22-23. Additionally, the carrier has rescheduled several other flights, adjusting departure and arrival times to accommodate evolving weather patterns. Passengers with connecting flights through Dubai will be automatically rebooked to their final destinations.
Simultaneously, Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi cancelled four transatlantic services, including routes to New York-JFK and Boston. The airline adjusted departure times for other flights, bringing forward EY4’s departure by four hours and delaying EY3 by approximately five hours. Both airlines have committed to closely monitoring meteorological developments and have indicated that additional schedule modifications may become necessary.
Affected passengers are being offered rebooking options on alternative flights or full refunds upon request. Airlines strongly recommend that travelers verify their contact information through carrier websites to receive real-time updates via SMS or email notifications.
This weather event marks New York City’s first significant blizzard since 2016, with authorities and residents preparing for potentially historic snowfall conditions. The current storm system follows a late January mega-storm that resulted in over 100 fatalities nationwide and caused extensive transportation disruptions across the eastern United States.