Image: NASA Modis Rapid Response
Flights from the UK faced disruption again this week as Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcano sends clouds of ash into European airspace – just 13 months after the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull caused the biggest aviation shutdown since the 9/11 attacks.
While the makeup of ash from Grímsvötn was thought to be less of a threat than that which caused the 2010 crisis, unpredictable winds have left airports, airlines and air traffic controllers monitoring the situation closely. Flights to and from Scotland and parts of northern England have been disrupted and further disruption is expected.
News stories
From Travel Weekly
From other websites
- Iceland volcano pumps a different ash [BBC News]
- Airline shares hit by Icelandic volcano ash fears [BBC News]
- Ash cloud row as O’Leary rejects flight ban [Sky News]
Cancelled flights – May 24 2011
Last update: 2.30pm, May 24
Passengers are being advised to check with airlines before departing for the following airports:
- Derry
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Prestwick
- Newcastle
- Carlisle
- Durham Tees Valley
- Cumbernauld
EasyJet has cancelled around 90 flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow Inverness, Aberdeen, Newcastle and Belfast International.
British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle until 7pm on Tuesday May 24.
KLM has cancelled 34 flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Loganair has cancelled all afternoon services to or from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Dundee. Several flights serving Aberdeen, Inverness and the Orkney islands are expected to run.
Eastern Airways has cancelled 66 flights to and from Aberdeen, Durham and Newcastle. Three flights on Wednesday May 25 have already been cancelled: from Durham to Southampton, from Humberside to Aberdeen and East Midlands to Aberdeen.
Flybe has cancelled 54 flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Newcastle.
Bmi has cancelled 39 services to and from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle, Stavanger and Bergen.
Ryanair – whose chief executive has rubbished the safety scare over the cloud – told Edinburgh airport authorities it would be flying all six of its scheduled services.
Keflavik airport resumed operations today after Icelandic aviation authorities announced the reopening of airspace over the airport.
Links
- Consumers’ rights when flights are cancelled [Consumer Council]