Etihad suspends Chennai flights for two more days

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said it will be extending the suspension of its daily flights to Chennai for two more days, until December 9 after torrential rains forced closure of the city’s airport last week. The airline operates three flights daily to the southern Indian city.

Etihad initially suspended flights from Wednesday, December 2 through to Monday, December 7. Details of the suspension have been posted on Etihad’s website, which also says the airline will only resume flights after it receives “official confirmation of the airport’s reopening.”

The airport was forced to close on December 2 after the city saw its heaviest downpour in a century, leaving the airport flooded. However, on Sunday the airport reportedly reopened partially to allow some domestic flights to depart.

Other airlines in the Gulf, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, flydubai and Bahrain’s Gulf Air, have also cancelled flights to Chennai.

The deluge in Chennai has killed at least 280 people and left thousands stranded, according to reports.