London shut

[Fly747]

From BA website

Last updated: 08:25 15 April 2010

There was a large volcanic eruption in Iceland on Wednesday April 14.

Due to the weather conditions, a plume of volcanic ash has now spread southwards towards northern Europe and is severely affecting all airlines' flight activity in the area.

For safety reasons and on the direction from Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) a decision has been made to cancel a number of flights and close all London airports.

As a result ALL airlines will be impacted and we will therefore not be able to operate services after 11.30am from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City.

All British Airways domestic services have been cancelled on Thursday 15 April.

You are advised to check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport.

[Toe Knee Tiler]

London airports shut down by volcanic ash cloud

(15 April 2010)
A cloud of volcanic cloud from an eruption in Iceland has led to all air space north of London being closed down.
British Airways has confirmed no flights will depart from from Heathrow, Gatwick or London City airports after 11.30 today while all its domestic flights have also been cancelled.
Already, more than 150 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow and 138 at Gatwick, including the majority of easyJet and Monarch departures.
All airports in Scotland have already been closed and problems are moving south as prevalent winds blow the cloud towards London.
The radical steps have been taken because aircraft engines are particularly sensitive to volcanic ash.
More details and advice to follow throughout today.

[BusyB]

UK airspace closed until 1800L:hmm:

[Humber10]

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/412103-ash-clouds-threaten-air-traffic.html

[On the beach]

Most of Northern Europe and the North Atlantic now closed. US and Canadian departures returning. It's very quiet, no traffic at all on FlightAware over UK. All inbounds to UK after 1200Z diverted.

On the beach

[Fly747]

About half the flights to AMS LHR FRA and CDG now cancelled and the rest delayed until tomorrow.

[throw a dyce]

The sky is blue today,but like a Chinese blue.Sort of green/light blue/brown.
Obviously at high level,but underneath lovely fresh air.Looks like the volcano still angry,pressure system(atlantic high) isn't moving,and this could drag on for a long time.Latest is London airspace closed until 1am local Saturday.:cool:

[geh065]

The problem is that the ash cloud is now very widespread across Europe. They know the affected areas but within them is it hard to classify ash densities from area to area. With high altitude winds, the situation changes almost hourly and it is simply too difficult for anyone to put their job, and thousands of lives at risk by opening up a section of airspace saying "It should be ok!".

Having said that, a couple of transatlantic flights have arrived in Europe within the last few hours.

[AD POSSE AD ESSE]

Ask IOC, they have ALL the answers to everything!!:confused:

[B-HKD]

Nothing beats the air quality in HKG :E

[Nullaman]

Ouch looks like Tuesday at the earliest.:ooh:

[fly123456]

Let's operate to Budapest, Vienna instead of FRA, Toulouse instead of CDG, maybe some place in Ireland instead of LHR!

[claire40]

KLM launched a 737 yesterday to see if it would stay airborne in Dutch airpspace!!

[claire40]

Not to be out done Wimpey Walsh orders one of BAs finest aloft to see if they can stay up.
This is Truly Airline management logic at its finest.
Heres' a thought why dont the euro govts get together and organise a solid rescue plan .
Order trains and boats to go rescue people.
Anyone fancy a paid for 21 day cruise back to blighty
Or maybe you would rather be a guinea pig on BA or KLM with advanced volcanic ash sniffers retrofitted to the Capts Hat guaranteed to get you home safe and sound

[minglestar]

Since Madrid and Barcelona airports are still open.
Have airlines consider routing their aircrafts to Spain to pickup/return strained passengers? With Europe being so interconnected by rail, the passengers can travel by train to/from Madrid and Barcelona.

[Captain TOGA]

I think CX has at least 3 charter flights heading to Barcelona on Monday.

[Nullaman]

From their website

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Tuesday April 20, 0245

Since our last statement at 2100 yesterday, the volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK. This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working.

Latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation is variable. The information shows that Scottish airports should be available from 0700 and more airspace over England may become available from 1300 although not as far south as the main London airports.

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change during the course of the day. We will make a further statement at approximately 0900 (local time), today, Tuesday 20 April.

NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.


Not good

[Sir KDM Lowe]

More SLS anyone? Could be another "Financial Tsuami" around the corner?
;)