BA flights to the UAE also hit
Several flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Britain's financial centre were affected as Heathrow airport announced that only seventy per cent of its daily scheduled traffic will be allowed to operate due to the cold wave affecting Europe.
Flights to most other European destinations continued to operate as scheduled.
British Airways announced that one of its three flights operating to Dubai would remain cancelled. BA 105 scheduled to depart from Heathrow to Dubai at 20:35 has been cancelled while its afternoon flight BA 0107 scheduled to depart at 12:45 has been rescheduled to 13:04pm.
The BA0109 flight at 21:40 will continue to operate as scheduled. The airline also said that all its three flights from Dubai to London Heathrow will operate as scheduled on Sunday. British Airways flights to and from Abu Dhabi will also continue to operate as scheduled.
While Emirates airlines cancelled four flights, both departing and arriving from London Heathrow, Etihad airways announced that it is cancelling its two flights to and from London on Sunday.
Flights of most other airlines including those of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and are expected to be either delayed or cancelled.
Emirates apologised for cancelling EK29 and EK05 - scheduled to depart Dubai at 09:40 and 16:30 respectively - and the return flights EK30 and EK06, due to depart London Heathrow at 16:35 and 22:00 on Sunday.
"We will book passengers on alternative flights where possible. Passengers due to travel to or from LHR are advised to check the status of their flight using the flight status tool below, before departing for the airport," said a statement posted on its website.
Etihad announced that arrangements are being made to assist all affected passengers of its flights EY 11 (02.40) from Abu Dhabi to London and the return flight EY 12 (0915) from London to Abu Dhabi. "They are being advised of alternative flights and, where necessary, overnight accommodation will be provided in Abu Dhabi," a statement posted on its website said.
Earlier a statement by Heathrow airport said that BAA, Heathrow airlines, and air traffic control had agreed to introduce a reduced flight schedule at Heathrow tomorrow in order to minimise the disruption to passengers caused by forecast snow and adverse weather.
"Seventy per cent of flights will operate at Heathrow on Sunday 5 February. A revised schedule showing which flights will operate will be published.....We expect the percentage of passengers who are able to fly to be higher than 70% as airlines will transfer people between flights. Passengers should contact their airline for more information.
Providing an update of the latest forecasts it said, "Snow is expected to fall at Heathrow from 17.00 today until 06.00 tomorrow, with heavy snow fall between 21.00 and 03.00. A total of 5-10cm of snow is expected to accumulate, with a 30 per cent chance of up to 15cm. Reduced visibility is expected during the day on Sunday with possible freezing fog from 1800. Such events will reduce the capacity of the airport and without reductions to the flight schedule there would be significant disruption to flights and passengers at Heathrow."
© Emirates 24|7 2012
