Ash cloud ‘could cause serious disruption’
As thousands of famiilies prepare for a half-term getaway, aviation authorities are now saying that an ash cloud from Iceland’s erupting volcano could cause serious disruption to travel plans later this week if it spreads across the UK.
Already thousands of passengers have been stranded as airlines cancelled flights to and from Scotland this morning because of drifting ash.
The following airlines have cancelled or suspended flights:
- British Airways is not operating any flights between London and Scotland until 14:00 hrs
- KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle and flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport
- EasyJet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen until 13:00hrs.
- Ryanair said it has been advised by the Irish Aviation Authority not to operate flights from Glasgow Prestwick, Edinburgh or Aberdeen until at least 1300hrs
- Flybe cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen and Inverness
- Bmi said flights to and from Aberdeen were subject to delay and passengers should check its website, but services in and out of Glasgow and Edinburgh are running normally
- Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights, but its inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected
- Eastern Airways is not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace
The ash cloud is expected to reach other parts of the UK later this week, but the Met Office said changing wind patterns made it difficult to predict whether the ash cloud will spread.
The CAA said the cloud could potentially cause serious disruption as the ash density below 35,000ft had reached the highest level at more than 4,000 microgrammes per cubic metre.
However, it said airlines would be given permission to fly even in medium to high density ash as long as they had done a risk assessment with aircraft manufacturers and engine makers and they could prove to the CAA that there was no risk.
So far no airline has applied to fly in high density ash, it said, but a number have applied for permission to fly in medium density.
Ryanair complained this morning that it should not have been forced by the Irish Aviation Authority to ground its flights to and from Scotland. It said it was meeting with the authority this morning to have the restriction on flights removed.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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