Etihad's Charlotte Flights Delayed by Middle East Chaos

0:00What's up Durham, this is Durham News Today, bringing you the city's fastest updates on what is happening now. Eddie had airways had big plans to launch Charlotte's first nonstop flights to the Middle East, connecting Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Abu. Dhabi starting March 20th. The airline picked the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the route, marking a milestone for North Carolina travelers heading to the United, Arab Emirates and beyond. Earlier this week, a major escalation changed everything. A United States and Israeli attack on Iran killed the country's supreme leader, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region. Airspace shut down over much of the Middle East, canceling tens of thousands of flights over the weekend and into Monday. Travelers are feeling the pinch hard. Eddie had suspended all flights until at least 2 pm, local time on Wednesday, putting safety first and telling passengers to stay away from airports. Unless told otherwise by staff, the chaos has grounded hopes for smooth service launches.

1:02Meanwhile, Iran's drones damaged parts of Dubai International Airport and a famous hotel nearby, but the airport plans to restart limited flights Monday night. Officials say operations will only resume once it's fully safe. Despite the uncertainty, Eddie had seized Charlotte as a key growth spot, supporting business and leisure trips. The airline carried 22.4 million passengers last year of 21%, and added 29 planes to its fleet of 1. 127. For now, that March 20th debut hangs in the balance. Thanks to our sponsor for supporting today's coverage. Salih Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play, and disappear into what you are listening to. R-O-L-I-SallyPillow.com. R-O-L-I-SallyPillow.com. R-O-L-I-SallyPillow.com.