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Australian flights resume as Chile volcano ash clears Australian flights resume as Chile volcano ash clears
(about 3 hours later)
Flights are gradually resuming from airports in southern Australia after two days of cancellations caused by an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano. Flights are gradually resuming from airports across Australia after two days of cancellations caused by an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano.
Qantas and Virgin jets took off from Adelaide on Wednesday morning, while their flights through Melbourne and the capital, Canberra, were due to depart. Qantas and Virgin jets took off from Adelaide on Wednesday morning. Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney airports were expected to resume flights later.
Services from Sydney, Newcastle and Hobart will begin in the afternoon. But the ash is heading towards New Zealand, where disruption is expected.
Many travellers spent the night at airports as flights were disrupted for the second time in just over a week.Many travellers spent the night at airports as flights were disrupted for the second time in just over a week.
Last week, tens of thousands of people were stranded as airlines grounded flights as ash from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano passed over several Australian cities and New Zealand. Last week, tens of thousands of people had their travel plans ruined as ash from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano passed over several Australian cities and New Zealand.
By Friday, all flights were running normally, but the ash cloud circled the Earth for a second time and caused further disruption. By last Friday, all flights were running normally, but the ash cloud circled the Earth for a second time and caused further disruption.
This time, the plume hovered at between 20,000 and 40,000ft (6-13km), which experts advised was too low for airlines to fly underneath.This time, the plume hovered at between 20,000 and 40,000ft (6-13km), which experts advised was too low for airlines to fly underneath.
If volcanic ash particles are ingested into a jet engine, they accumulate and clog it with molten glass, which can cause the engine to shut down.If volcanic ash particles are ingested into a jet engine, they accumulate and clog it with molten glass, which can cause the engine to shut down.
'Optimistic''Optimistic'
On Wednesday, Andrew Tupper of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre said Hobart would be the only state capital with ash over it at the end of the day.On Wednesday, Andrew Tupper of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre said Hobart would be the only state capital with ash over it at the end of the day.
"This morning it is going to be clearing most of Australia," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He told Australia's ABC that most of the ash was heading towards New Zealand and was unlikely to reappear over Australia.
"Most of the ash is heading off the Tasman and will be over New Zealand shortly." "The volcano is still erupting but not at the same levels. It is very unusual for ash clouds to do two circuits of the globe," he said.
He said it was unlikely that this particular ash cloud would reappear.
"The volcano is still erupting but not at the same levels," he explained. "It is very unusual for ash clouds to do two circuits of the globe.
"I am looking to be optimistic... it's not going to go on forever."
Flights to New Zealand will continue to be disrupted by the ash cloud, but Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said it was possible all flight schedules would return to normal on Thursday.Flights to New Zealand will continue to be disrupted by the ash cloud, but Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said it was possible all flight schedules would return to normal on Thursday.
Despite the forecast, passengers are still facing significant delays and are advised to contact their airlines for updates.Despite the forecast, passengers are still facing significant delays and are advised to contact their airlines for updates.
Virgin said 13,000 domestic passengers would be affected on Wednesday, while Qantas said it expected 30,000 to be delayed, on top of the 20,000 who were left stranded by Tuesday's disruption.Virgin said 13,000 domestic passengers would be affected on Wednesday, while Qantas said it expected 30,000 to be delayed, on top of the 20,000 who were left stranded by Tuesday's disruption.
Greyhound is running extra bus services in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane to help clear the backlog, while trains between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will have extra carriages.Greyhound is running extra bus services in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane to help clear the backlog, while trains between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will have extra carriages.
The Tourism and Transport Forum said the ash had caused the largest disruption to Australia's aviation industry since a pilots' strike in 1989.The Tourism and Transport Forum said the ash had caused the largest disruption to Australia's aviation industry since a pilots' strike in 1989.
Analysts at Macquarie Equities estimate the disruptions will cost Qantas about $21m and Virgin $11m. The airlines have not put a figure on the cost, but Qantas conceded that it would be substantial. Analysts at Macquarie Equities estimate the disruptions will cost Qantas about $21m and Virgin $11m.
Have you been affected by the ash cloud? Send us your comments using the form below.Have you been affected by the ash cloud? Send us your comments using the form below.
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