Europe faces days of air disruption
LONDON – Flights heading for Europe were stacked up around the world today as airlines waited for the cloud of volcanic ash to clear the skies.
The volcano beneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull glacier has been hurling a plume of ash into the atmosphere.
Airlines have been given no option but to wait for the all clear before re-scheduling thousands of cancelled flights into and out of the UK and many European cities.
Emirates, which provided regular updates on the situation through its PR company in Australia, said customers affected by the disruption could cancel their booking or change their onward destination without charge.
Emirates said all re-issue and cancellation fees will be waived while the disruption is ongoing. “Where necessary, our customers are being provided with hotel accommodation,†an Emirates statement said.
A Qantas spokesman said four flights to London and one Frankfurt-bound flight that were due to take off this afternoon and evening had been cancelled, affecting hundreds of passengers.
On its website, Qantas said “alternate flights cannot be confirmed until authorities in Europe provide us with official notification that flights can resume.
“On current estimations airspace into Europe will not be open for at least another 24 hours.â€
Melbourne Airport spokeswoman Claire Fitzgerald said there is a possibility the flights from Australia may be held at major international hubs in Asia due to the mass grounding of aircraft in Europe.
Cathay Pacific was forced to cancel flights from Hong Kong to London. One flight to London was diverted to Frankfurt.
British Airways cancelled flights to and from Hong Kong. Passengers are being advised to check www.ba.com for any updates on flights.
All British Airways short haul flights into and out of the UK will be cancelled until at least 6pm UK local time on Friday.
All BA long haul flights due to depart from and arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick up to 1pm UK local time on Friday are also being cancelled.
Virgin Atlantic said VS 201 from Sydney to Hong Kong departing April 17 would operate normally but it is unclear if the flight would continue to London as scheduled
Ironically, Icelandic airports remained open as wind was blowing ash away from the island. “Flights to and from Iceland are still OK. The wind is blowing the ash to the east,” Hjordis Gudmundsdottir of the Icelandic Airport Authority said.
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Ian Jarrett
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