Can someone from an airline planning dept or ATC please explain what is going on to a confused SLF like myself.
In the last few days a number of transatlantic flights to and from Spain have been routing North South and vv across the UK going up towards 60 North no doubt to avoid the ash cloud. One day AA's MAD- JFK B767 was even reported as going over NE over Cherbourg, London and Ipswich before turning NW over the N Sea and then running parallel to the UK East Coast about 100 miles offshore. Also reported N-S or vv over the UK are transatlantic TAP flights and Aeromexico/ Mexicana flights from Madrid.
At the same time most AF transatlantics, along with KL and LH (both ETOPS twins and 747s) seem to have been routing North just off the Noreweigan coast
During all this disruption, a small number of transatlantic flights mostly BA have been reported as coming off the Ocean / going oceanic over Cork and Shannon.
If the ash cloud area was stopping all these other flights going on their normal "best route", how come these flights seemed to come through the affected area.
Any explanation gratefully received!
Suzeman