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Europe faces prolonged air chaos Europe faces prolonged air chaos
(about 2 hours later)
Flights across much of Europe are being cancelled on a second day of massive disruption caused by drifting ash ejected from a volcano in Iceland. Flights across much of Europe will be severely disrupted well into Saturday because of drifting ash ejected from a volcano in Iceland, officials said.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers are affected and severe disruption could extend into the weekend, including on flights to North America and Asia. Much of the airspace across northern and western Europe has been closed and air control officials said some 17,000 flights would be cancelled on Friday.
Some 5,000 flights were cancelled on Thursday as airspace from the Republic of Ireland to Finland was closed. Hundreds of thousands of passengers in Europe and around the world have been affected by the disruptions.
The ash is not thought to pose a serious health risk to people. Scientists say the volcano is still erupting but producing less ash.
We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud Tim Farish, Oslo class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8621682.stm">Volcanic ash: Your travel stories class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8623806.stm">UK extends air restrictions class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8623239.stm">A guide to Iceland's volcanoes COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: UKRepublic of IrelandNorwayDenmarkBelgiumNetherlandsFinlandLithuania Partial closures: Sweden (northern airspace opened Friday)France (northern airspace)Germany (northern airspace)Poland (northern airspace)Austria (closures from Friday pm)Czech Republic (full closure expected later Friday)
Ash began falling on northern parts of Scotland overnight and particles from the Shetland Isles were being examined by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Europe's intergovernmental air control agency, Eurocontrol, said it "expects around 11,000 flights to take place today in European airspace. On a normal day, we would expect 28,000."
Health officials said the effects of the ash on people with existing respiratory conditions were "likely to be short term". Of about 300 trans-Atlantic flights that would usually arrive in Europe in the morning, no more than 120 made it over, the agency said.
The UK's Met Office said any ash that did reach ground level would be barely visible. "Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash is continuing to move east and south-east and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours," it said in a statement.
'Dynamic situation'
More countries moved to close their airspace on Friday morning, joining eight which banned flights on Thursday.
Britain's air traffic control body extended its unprecedented restrictions on UK airspace until at least 0100BST on Saturday.Britain's air traffic control body extended its unprecedented restrictions on UK airspace until at least 0100BST on Saturday.
Exceptions allowed for Northern Ireland and western Scotland saw the first flight leave UK airspace since the ban was imposed, an Air Transat plane bound for Toronto from Glasgow.Exceptions allowed for Northern Ireland and western Scotland saw the first flight leave UK airspace since the ban was imposed, an Air Transat plane bound for Toronto from Glasgow.
"In general, the situation is dynamic and subject to change," said a statement issued by the National Air Traffic Service on Friday morning."In general, the situation is dynamic and subject to change," said a statement issued by the National Air Traffic Service on Friday morning.
'Progressing very slowly' Advertisement
The European air traffic control organisation, Eurocontrol, said a lack of wind meant the ash cloud created by the volcano underneath Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier was "progressing very slowly eastwards" and remained "very dense". Volcanologist Dr Hazel Rymer: "The ash is only dangerous if you want to fly into it"
COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: UKRepublic of IrelandNorwayDenmarkBelgiumNetherlandsFinlandLithuania Partial closures: Sweden (northern airspace opened Friday)France (northern airspace)Germany (northern airspace)Poland (northern airspace)Austria (closures from Friday pm)
The UK, Irish Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands closed their airspace on Thursday.The UK, Irish Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands closed their airspace on Thursday.
France shut down 24 airports in the north of the country, including the main hub of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, while Germany's Berlin and Hamburg airports were also closed on Thursday evening. Frankfurt closed on Friday morning.France shut down 24 airports in the north of the country, including the main hub of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, while Germany's Berlin and Hamburg airports were also closed on Thursday evening. Frankfurt closed on Friday morning.
Poland closed most of its airspace on Friday but kept Krakow and Rzeszow airports in the south open. Austrian officials said they would have to start closing their country's airspace from late afternoon.Poland closed most of its airspace on Friday but kept Krakow and Rzeszow airports in the south open. Austrian officials said they would have to start closing their country's airspace from late afternoon.
Sweden began reopening its northern airspace on Friday. Officials said restrictions further south would be lifted gradually. Czech authorities began to close their northern airspace on Friday as well, adding that a complete closure was likely to follow.
But as the volcanic ash began drifting south, Sweden began reopening its northern airspace. Officials said restrictions further south would be lifted gradually on Friday.
We can actually smell sulphur in the air here now from the volcano cloud Tim Farish, Oslo Volcanic ash: Your travel stories UK extends air restrictions A guide to Iceland's volcanoes
Qantas, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific were among airlines who have cancelled long-haul flights to Europe.Qantas, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific were among airlines who have cancelled long-haul flights to Europe.
Qantas spokesman David Epstein said it may take until Sunday for flights to resume.Qantas spokesman David Epstein said it may take until Sunday for flights to resume.
If the disruption persists, there are fears in Poland that some world leaders will be unable to attend Sunday's state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in a plane crash last Saturday.If the disruption persists, there are fears in Poland that some world leaders will be unable to attend Sunday's state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in a plane crash last Saturday.
Several European monarchs were unable to attend 70th birthday celebrations for Denmark's Queen Margrethe, which began with a concert on Thursday.Several European monarchs were unable to attend 70th birthday celebrations for Denmark's Queen Margrethe, which began with a concert on Thursday.
'Days or weeks' Ash subsiding
The volcano began erupting on Wednesday for the second time in a month, hurling a plume of ash 11km (seven miles) into the atmosphere. A 500m-wide fissure appeared at the top of the crater.The volcano began erupting on Wednesday for the second time in a month, hurling a plume of ash 11km (seven miles) into the atmosphere. A 500m-wide fissure appeared at the top of the crater.
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Ash spewing from the volcano in Iceland on Wednesday
The heat melted the surrounding ice, and witnesses say two flows of meltwater started coming off the glacier on Wednesday.The heat melted the surrounding ice, and witnesses say two flows of meltwater started coming off the glacier on Wednesday.
As many as 800 people were evacuated from their homes as water carried pieces of ice reportedly the size of small houses down the mountain. A road along the flooded Markarfljot river was also cut in several places.As many as 800 people were evacuated from their homes as water carried pieces of ice reportedly the size of small houses down the mountain. A road along the flooded Markarfljot river was also cut in several places.
On Thursday, the flooding was reported to have subsided, but the volcano was still producing ash that was being blown towards Europe. On Thursday, the flooding was reported to have subsided.
Matthew Roberts, from the Icelandic Met Office, told the BBC the eruption was weakening and it was no longer producing as much ash.
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Stranded passengers in Paris, Stockholm, Dublin and OsloStranded passengers in Paris, Stockholm, Dublin and Oslo
"It is likely that the production of ash will continue at a comparable level for some days or weeks. But where it disrupts travel, that depends on the weather," Einar Kjartansson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the Associated Press. British health officials said the effects of the ash on people with existing respiratory conditions were "likely to be short term".
"It depends how the wind carries the ash." Particles that fell overnight Thursday on the Shetland Isles were being examined by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
The last volcanic eruption beneath the glacier was on 20 March. The eruption before that started in 1821 - and continued for two years.The last volcanic eruption beneath the glacier was on 20 March. The eruption before that started in 1821 - and continued for two years.
Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.
Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below.Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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