Eleven flights bound for Dubai and Sharjah were diverted to Fujairah International Airport (FIA) on Sunday morning due to poor visibility because of bad weather in some parts of the UAE.

Carriers from Cathay Pacific, Air Arabia and flydubai were among the airlines that were forced to temporarily halt in FIA, said Charles Hajdu, acting general manager of FIA.

Every year scores of flights are forced to divert mainly due to bad weather conditions that persist across the region during winter season, making it difficult to assume normal operations at these airports.

FIA’s unique geographical location on the East Coast facing the Indian Ocean makes the airport a favourable location for flight diversions throughout the year.

“The visibility in the airport never goes below 500 meters, which is a boon for us. It also can accommodate larger aircraft including A380s which provides the airport an edge,” Hajdu said.

A growing number of airlines have signed ground handling agreements with FIA to assist their quick, easy business recovery in the event of fog or low visibility as the airport is fully equipped to handle these situations at short notice, ensuring safety of operations and passenger comfort at minimised cost to airlines. – TradeArabia News Service