Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has grounded six long-haul rotations to New York–JFK and Washington Dulles scheduled for 25 January after storm conditions forced temporary runway closures along the U-S East Coast. The affected flights—EY1, EY3, EY2, EY4, EY5 and EY6—represent the airline’s entire double-daily schedule to both cities.
Etihad said passengers can opt for free rebooking on the next available service or request a full refund. All other North-American flights are operating, but the carrier warned that “unpredictable” weather could trigger further changes. Ground teams at Zayed International Airport have been instructed to prioritise crew-duty-time resets and cold-weather contingency planning to minimise knock-on delays across the network.
For travelers whose U.S. visa windows may now be squeezed by the disruption, visa-processing specialists at VisaHQ can arrange fast-track renewals or fresh applications entirely online. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) guides corporate mobility managers through DS-160 updates, courier logistics and fee schedules, helping ensure documents are in order once Etihad’s flights are back on track.
![Etihad suspends New York and Washington services as severe weather shutters U-S airports]()
The cancellations coincide with peak corporate-travel traffic out of Abu Dhabi as global conferences resume after Davos. Mobility managers should audit itineraries that rely on tight onward connections to Canada and the U-S Midwest, where Fern’s impact is expected to linger. Companies dispatching engineers and sales teams under time-sensitive U-S visas may need to activate remote-work contingencies or shift meetings online.
Under UAE law, employers bear a duty of care for staff on business travel. Etihad’s flexible waiver, together with comprehensive travel-insurance cover, can mitigate financial exposure to hotel stays and missed meetings. The storm also tests recently upgraded biometric-exit systems at AUH, which aim to fast-track re-cleared passengers once flights resume.
Etihad emphasised that safety remains the overriding priority and pledged to keep passengers informed via SMS, e-mail and its social-media channels. Travellers are advised to reconfirm flight status before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for U-S immigration procedures once operations normalise.
Etihad said passengers can opt for free rebooking on the next available service or request a full refund. All other North-American flights are operating, but the carrier warned that “unpredictable” weather could trigger further changes. Ground teams at Zayed International Airport have been instructed to prioritise crew-duty-time resets and cold-weather contingency planning to minimise knock-on delays across the network.
For travelers whose U.S. visa windows may now be squeezed by the disruption, visa-processing specialists at VisaHQ can arrange fast-track renewals or fresh applications entirely online. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) guides corporate mobility managers through DS-160 updates, courier logistics and fee schedules, helping ensure documents are in order once Etihad’s flights are back on track.
The cancellations coincide with peak corporate-travel traffic out of Abu Dhabi as global conferences resume after Davos. Mobility managers should audit itineraries that rely on tight onward connections to Canada and the U-S Midwest, where Fern’s impact is expected to linger. Companies dispatching engineers and sales teams under time-sensitive U-S visas may need to activate remote-work contingencies or shift meetings online.
Under UAE law, employers bear a duty of care for staff on business travel. Etihad’s flexible waiver, together with comprehensive travel-insurance cover, can mitigate financial exposure to hotel stays and missed meetings. The storm also tests recently upgraded biometric-exit systems at AUH, which aim to fast-track re-cleared passengers once flights resume.
Etihad emphasised that safety remains the overriding priority and pledged to keep passengers informed via SMS, e-mail and its social-media channels. Travellers are advised to reconfirm flight status before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for U-S immigration procedures once operations normalise.
