This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-13535054
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Iceland volcano ash closes airspace in northern Germany | Iceland volcano ash closes airspace in northern Germany |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Germany is to close its northern airspace on Wednesday because of ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland, officials say. | Germany is to close its northern airspace on Wednesday because of ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland, officials say. |
Bremen airport would close at 0300 GMT while Hamburg would close at 0400 GMT, Germany's weather service said. | Bremen airport would close at 0300 GMT while Hamburg would close at 0400 GMT, Germany's weather service said. |
The airspace over Berlin and Hanover could also be affected. | The airspace over Berlin and Hanover could also be affected. |
UK airlines have already cancelled flights in parts of Scotland and northern England. Air traffic in Norway and Denmark has also been disrupted. | UK airlines have already cancelled flights in parts of Scotland and northern England. Air traffic in Norway and Denmark has also been disrupted. |
Europe's air traffic controller Eurocontrol said about 500 flights have been cancelled due to the closure of parts of Britain's airspace. | Europe's air traffic controller Eurocontrol said about 500 flights have been cancelled due to the closure of parts of Britain's airspace. |
The service said there was a strong possibility the ash cloud would travel over parts of Denmark, Norway and Sweden but the impact on flights would probably be limited. | The service said there was a strong possibility the ash cloud would travel over parts of Denmark, Norway and Sweden but the impact on flights would probably be limited. |
Britain's weather service said the concentration of volcanic ash in UK airspace would decrease significantly over the course of Wednesday. | Britain's weather service said the concentration of volcanic ash in UK airspace would decrease significantly over the course of Wednesday. |
France's civil aviation authority has said it expects very little disruption to air traffic and was not expecting to close any of the country's airspace. | France's civil aviation authority has said it expects very little disruption to air traffic and was not expecting to close any of the country's airspace. |
Grimsvotn volcano began erupting on Saturday, sending clouds of ash high into the air. | Grimsvotn volcano began erupting on Saturday, sending clouds of ash high into the air. |
Experts say the eruption is on a different scale to that of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano last year, when millions of travellers were stranded amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to aircraft engines. | Experts say the eruption is on a different scale to that of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano last year, when millions of travellers were stranded amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to aircraft engines. |
European Union transport commissioner Siim Kallas said: "We do not at this stage anticipate widespread airspace closure and prolonged disruption like we saw last year." | |
The ash particles from Grimsvotn are larger than those from Eyjafjallajokull, and so fall to the ground more quickly. | The ash particles from Grimsvotn are larger than those from Eyjafjallajokull, and so fall to the ground more quickly. |
A forecaster at Iceland's meteorological service said Grimsvotn was producing less ash on Tuesday and the plume had decreased in height to about 5,000m (16,400ft). | A forecaster at Iceland's meteorological service said Grimsvotn was producing less ash on Tuesday and the plume had decreased in height to about 5,000m (16,400ft). |