Dubai International Airport Grapples with Severe Baggage Delays After Historic Rainfall

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is facing significant operational challenges as it tries to recover from a massive backlog of baggage following unprecedented rainfall on April 16. This weather event, described by the UAE National Center of Meteorology as the heaviest rainfall in 75 years, has caused widespread disruptions, particularly affecting Emirates and other airlines operating through this major hub.

The deluge led to flooding at various parts of the airport, visibly hampering flight operations and ground handling services. In response, Emirates issued an advisory on X (formerly known as Twitter), announcing a temporary suspension of check-in for passengers with connections through DXB until the early hours of the following morning. This measure was intended to aid in operational recovery and manage the ongoing disruptions more effectively.

Despite the efforts to stabilize the situation, DXB announced it would limit the number of incoming flights to manage the congestion and prioritize the welfare of stranded passengers, especially families and the elderly. Social media posts highlighted areas of the airport underwater, complicating recovery efforts and leading to significant flight delays and cancellations.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed a marked decrease in flight activities, with only a fraction of scheduled departures taking off during the peak of the disruptions. Although there was a slight improvement in the following days, the airport continued to face challenges in managing the backlog of flights and baggage.

As DXB works through these operational hurdles, passengers have been advised to expect ongoing delays and to check flight statuses regularly. The airport's efforts to return to normalcy are being closely monitored, with updates provided via official channels.