Air travel in Australia and New Zealand has been disrupted by volcanic ash from Chile for a second day. Airlines including Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger suspended flights to and from various parts of the region.
Strong winds have carried the fine particles of ash, which have the potential to seriously damage jet engines, from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile to southern New Zealand and Australia.
Air New Zealand warned that it may be forced to ground some services if the situation worsens.
Chief pilot David Morgan said: “We may well be affected later on today and tomorrow because if we can’t exit or operate across the Tasman Sea and get to 20,000 feet before we enter into controlled air space then we will have issues in the next few days.”
The eruption also forced the cancellation of several flights by Copa and American airlines in and out of Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo as they expected ash to affect the country’s air space.