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Thousands hit by volcanic ash cloud flight delays | Thousands hit by volcanic ash cloud flight delays |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcano. | Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcano. |
About 500 flights were cancelled in Europe on Tuesday, air traffic management body Eurocontrol said. | About 500 flights were cancelled in Europe on Tuesday, air traffic management body Eurocontrol said. |
Flights from some airports in Scotland and northern England would be affected until 0100 BST on Wednesday, air traffic services company Nats said. | Flights from some airports in Scotland and northern England would be affected until 0100 BST on Wednesday, air traffic services company Nats said. |
But the transport secretary said there should not be significant disruption for UK airports after Tuesday night. | But the transport secretary said there should not be significant disruption for UK airports after Tuesday night. |
Services at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Barra, Prestwick, Cumbernauld, Tiree, Carlisle and Durham Tees Valley could be affected until early on Wednesday. | Services at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Barra, Prestwick, Cumbernauld, Tiree, Carlisle and Durham Tees Valley could be affected until early on Wednesday. |
UK air traffic control service Nats said the latest information from the Met Office showed no volcanic ash was predicted in UK airspace from 0100 BST on Wednesday. | UK air traffic control service Nats said the latest information from the Met Office showed no volcanic ash was predicted in UK airspace from 0100 BST on Wednesday. |
Nats said further updates would be made if the situation changed and passengers are advised to continue to check with their airline before travelling. | Nats said further updates would be made if the situation changed and passengers are advised to continue to check with their airline before travelling. |
Meanwhile, Germany's Meteorological Service says airspace over the country's northern cities, including Bremen and Hamburg, will close from 0400 BST (0500 local time) because of elevated levels of ash in the atmosphere. | Meanwhile, Germany's Meteorological Service says airspace over the country's northern cities, including Bremen and Hamburg, will close from 0400 BST (0500 local time) because of elevated levels of ash in the atmosphere. |
The UK's emergency response committee, Cobra, met earlier to discuss the knock-on effects of the ash cloud. | The UK's emergency response committee, Cobra, met earlier to discuss the knock-on effects of the ash cloud. |
After the meeting, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there was cautious optimism for the coming days. | After the meeting, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there was cautious optimism for the coming days. |
He said the ash plume had decreased in height and intensity, and south-westerly winds were predicted for the next two days which would move the cloud away from the UK. | He said the ash plume had decreased in height and intensity, and south-westerly winds were predicted for the next two days which would move the cloud away from the UK. |
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) divides the airspace into areas of high-, medium- and low-density ash, and airlines wishing to fly in areas of medium- or high-density ash need to get a safety case accepted by the authority. | The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) divides the airspace into areas of high-, medium- and low-density ash, and airlines wishing to fly in areas of medium- or high-density ash need to get a safety case accepted by the authority. |
It said earlier that, although no airlines had applied to fly in high-density ash, some had applied for, and been given, permission to fly in medium density. | It said earlier that, although no airlines had applied to fly in high-density ash, some had applied for, and been given, permission to fly in medium density. |
Test plane | Test plane |
Mr Hammond said British Airways had been talking to the CAA to get permission to fly in higher density ash cloud zones in certain circumstances. | Mr Hammond said British Airways had been talking to the CAA to get permission to fly in higher density ash cloud zones in certain circumstances. |
BA sent up a plane to test the ash on Tuesday evening. | BA sent up a plane to test the ash on Tuesday evening. |
An Airbus A320 left Manchester to fly over Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh before heading to Heathrow airport where the plane and its performance will be examined by engineers. | An Airbus A320 left Manchester to fly over Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh before heading to Heathrow airport where the plane and its performance will be examined by engineers. |
Mr Hammond rejected claims by Irish carrier Ryanair that it would have been safe to continue flying in the areas of higher density ash cloud. | Mr Hammond rejected claims by Irish carrier Ryanair that it would have been safe to continue flying in the areas of higher density ash cloud. |
"We're quite prepared to talk to airlines about ways in which we can improve the regime on the basis of a properly demonstrated safety case," he said. | "We're quite prepared to talk to airlines about ways in which we can improve the regime on the basis of a properly demonstrated safety case," he said. |
"But we're not going to be bullied by airlines or by anybody else when our primary responsibility is the safety of aircraft in British airspace and passengers leaving British airports." | "But we're not going to be bullied by airlines or by anybody else when our primary responsibility is the safety of aircraft in British airspace and passengers leaving British airports." |
Ryanair said it had safely made a test flight through ash over Scotland. | Ryanair said it had safely made a test flight through ash over Scotland. |
The airline said its 90-minute flight at 41,000ft showed there was "no visible volcanic ash cloud or evidence of ash on the airframe, wings or engines". | The airline said its 90-minute flight at 41,000ft showed there was "no visible volcanic ash cloud or evidence of ash on the airframe, wings or engines". |
But a CAA spokesperson said: "The CAA can confirm that at no time did a Ryanair flight enter the notified area of high contamination ash over Scotland this morning." | But a CAA spokesperson said: "The CAA can confirm that at no time did a Ryanair flight enter the notified area of high contamination ash over Scotland this morning." |
The following airlines announced cancellations in the UK on Tuesday: | The following airlines announced cancellations in the UK on Tuesday: |
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Airports affected included Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Carlisle. | Airports affected included Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Carlisle. |
Passengers had been waiting at affected airports in the hope of getting flights. | Passengers had been waiting at affected airports in the hope of getting flights. |
At Glasgow airport, Guy McKinven, from the Clyde Valley area, was attempting to travel to Stansted. | At Glasgow airport, Guy McKinven, from the Clyde Valley area, was attempting to travel to Stansted. |
He said: "You see people shouting and getting upset, but there's nothing you can do. It is frustrating, but that's just the situation." | He said: "You see people shouting and getting upset, but there's nothing you can do. It is frustrating, but that's just the situation." |
The cancellations come just over a year after another volcanic eruption in Iceland caused widespread disruption across Europe, including the closure of UK airspace, amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to engine aircraft. | The cancellations come just over a year after another volcanic eruption in Iceland caused widespread disruption across Europe, including the closure of UK airspace, amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to engine aircraft. |
The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday and closed Iceland's airspace for a period. | The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday and closed Iceland's airspace for a period. |
Experts say the eruption is on a different scale to the one last year and ash particles are larger and, as a result, fall to the ground more quickly. | Experts say the eruption is on a different scale to the one last year and ash particles are larger and, as a result, fall to the ground more quickly. |
Frances Tuke, from travel industry body Abta, urged passengers to contact their airlines, which he said had legal obligations to their customers. | Frances Tuke, from travel industry body Abta, urged passengers to contact their airlines, which he said had legal obligations to their customers. |
He said passengers could have a claim under European "denied boarding" regulations. | He said passengers could have a claim under European "denied boarding" regulations. |
These state that if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than five hours, passengers are entitled to be either re-routed, given a replacement flight, or a refund. | These state that if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than five hours, passengers are entitled to be either re-routed, given a replacement flight, or a refund. |
The Foreign Office is advising passengers to remain in regular contact with their travel agent or airline for the latest news on the status of flights and bookings. | The Foreign Office is advising passengers to remain in regular contact with their travel agent or airline for the latest news on the status of flights and bookings. |
Icelandic government adviser Professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said the volcanic eruption was slowing down "day by day" and he believed the "worst is over". | Icelandic government adviser Professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said the volcanic eruption was slowing down "day by day" and he believed the "worst is over". |