Gulf airlines resume normal operations to UK

Airlines operating between the Gulf and London resumed normal operations yesterday barring minor delays. Most carriers were forced to cancel flights on Sunday due to heavy snowfall and worsening weather in the UK. Emirates said yesterday that all its UK flights were "operating as normal". While Etihad Airways did not cancel any flights yesterday, the carrier suffered minor delays on four flights between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, according to its website. They included London-bound EY19 (8.20am) and EY17 (1.25pm), and Abu Dhabi-bound EY12 (9.15am) and EY20 (1.45pm). The flights' status showed as "delayed" on Etihad's website. Article continues below Similarly, Qatar Airways flight QR5 (7.20am) from Doha to London departed approximately half an hour late yesterday, according to the carrier's website. British Airways was the only carrier to cancel flights yesterday. Two of its UK-bound flights from Dubai appeared as "cancelled" on BA's website — BA0108 (10.05am) and BA0104 (3.40pm). "We are doing everything we can to minimise any knock-on disruption caused by Sunday's severe weather," BA said in a statement, adding that the carrier planned to operate a "near normal" schedule of flights yesterday. It further advised customers to check their flight status before departing for the airport. Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, told Gulf News in a statement that its flights yesterday were "running to schedule". However, flights operating from Heathrow airport continued to be affected due to severe weather over the weekend, which saw the British Airport Authority cancelling around 43 per cent of flights on Sunday. Normal flight schedule Heathrow airport issued a statement on its website yesterday stating that the airport was open with its usual flight schedule operating. It further warned of a "handful of cancellations" as result of Sunday's disruption, urging passengers to check their flights before going to the airport. Forecasters, meanwhile, warned that the freezing UK weather could last for some more time and that the country could face more snow and freezing temperatures until the beginning of March.