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UPDATE: UK flight ban in place until Tuesday

Published: 19/04/2010 - Filed under: News »

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NATS has extended its flight restrictions until at least 0100 on Tuesday April 20.

In a statement released this morning, NATS said:

“Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the current restrictions across UK controlled airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud will remain in place until at least 0100 (local) on Tuesday 20th April.

“Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

“Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. 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 currently awaiting CAA guidance.

“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.”

The next update from NATS is expected at 1500 today.

Airspace across northern Europe remains largely closed with few exceptions. Austria was among those countries to reopen its airspace, and flights from Vienna are beginning to resume operations.

Southern Sweden has also reopened its airspace which is good news for passengers flying to and from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Stockholm-Bromma Airport and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport.

All passengers wishing to travel this week are of course advised to contact their airline.

For more information visit nats.co.uk.

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A graphic illustrating the extent of the volcanic ash cloud as of 2000 yesterday, as forecast by the volcanic ash advisory.

• The straight blue lines show daily published flight routes for eastbound and westbound transatlantic flights.
• Blue Arrows show the high altitude global jet streams, while the airplane graphics indicate the airlines currently flying.

The graphic was created by Sabre Flight Explorer, with information provided by the Icelandic Met Office and issued by the VAAC, London.

travel.flightexplorer.com

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COMMENTS » 

BusinessTraveller - 19/04/2010 09:45

FLYBE STATEMENT

Due to increased volcanic activity overnight, all UK and Northern European airspace has been closed by National Air Traffic Services.
Flybe has therefore cancelled all flights due to operate today (Monday 19thApril). Passengers due to fly today should not go to their airport of departure.

A decision will be taken with regard to Tuesday 20th schedule by 1000 this morning. Passengers are advised to check the Flybe website from that point.
Passengers whose flight has been cancelled may:

• Re-book to travel on another flight on the same or a similar route at no additional charge within the next 28 days, subject to availability (also extend return flight dates to accommodate required length of stay)
• Rebook for travel to the final destination at a later date (subject to availability)
• Apply for a refund on a cancelled flight

Only passengers booked to travel today should attempt to call the Customer Call Centre on 0871 700 2000, or 00 44 1392 268500 from outside the UK.

BusinessTraveller - 19/04/2010 09:53

FINNAIR STATEMENT

Dust discharged into the air by the eruption of a volcano in Iceland is disrupting flight traffic in Europe. Helsinki Airport remains closed until Monday, April 19th, 6 p.m. EET. Finnair has to cancel all of its flights until then.

Passengers whose flights are cancelled may transfer their journey to a later date by contacting the travel agency that sold their ticket or Finnair.

Passengers can also apply for a refund for Finnair flight tickets that remain unused due to cancellations. Refund can be applied also for Finnair flights between April 18-25 that are not cancelled. If their flight is cancelled, passengers are advised not to come to the airport.

Visit finnair.com/info

Customer services numbers: +358 10 808 045 and +358 600 140 140.

Land transport replacing flights from Helsinki to Berlin via Tallinn on 19 and 20 April.

Finnair is arranging alternative transportation for its European passengers still in Finland by ship and bus from Helsinki to Berlin via Tallinn on Monday 19 April and Tuesday 20 April.

A ship will leave Helsinki for Tallinn at 9.30 p.m. EET on both days.
The travel route is from Helsinki to Tallinn by ship and from Tallinn to Berlin by bus. The estimated travel time is around 34 hours.

Passengers who have travelled to Finland on a visa must ensure that their Schengen area visa is valid for the entire period of their travel.

Customers must make travel arrangements themselves from Berlin to their final destination.

We kindly ask customers who wish to participate in the Helsinki-Tallinn-Berlin travel arrangement to call 0800 92242.

BusinessTraveller - 19/04/2010 10:40

BRITISH AIRWAYS STATEMENT

Following further information from the Met Office about the path of the volcanic ash affecting UK airspace and airlines, there will continue to be severe disruption to our schedule.

All British Airways flights to and from London airports are cancelled on Monday 19 April.

Please do not go to the airport if your flight is cancelled, check the status of your flight here britishairways.com/travel/arrdep.

Check-in on ba.com is currently suspended.

If your flight is operated by another airline, please contact the operating carrier for information. We regret that we are unable to currently display accurate information for other carriers.

You are advised to check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport.
We are keeping our flying schedule under constant review and will aim to give you as much notice as possible once we receive more information from NATS.

Airline customers can contact BA on the following numbers:

In the UK: 0800 727 800
In the US: 1 800 247 9297 (1 800 AIRWAYS)

Passengers wishing to change their booking are advised to attempt to do so online before calling British Airways.

BusinessTraveller - 19/04/2010 12:13

AMERICAN AIRLINES

As a result of the continuing volcanic eruption and closure of wide areas of European airspace, American Airlines regrets to advise that a significant number of flights between Europe and the United States continue to be subject to delay or cancellation.

The situation remains fluid, so any passengers still due to travel are advised to check the status of their flight regularly and prior to travelling to the airport, to ensure they hold the most up to date information.

Due to the high volume of calls currently being received, passengers are advised to check www.aa.com for information in the first instance. The status of individual flights can be checked online by entering flight numbers; the service is updated daily and is subject to change based on weather updates and operational circumstances.

Updates are also available online via the ‘manage my trip’ option on the airline’s homepage. Due to the number of cancellations American may have already amended passengers’ travel arrangements; to access their itinerary passengers will need to enter their name and six-digit record locator from the original booking.

For those affected by the disruption, American Airlines is offering customers the convenience to change plans. For all travel between 16 April-3 May inclusive and subject to the original ticket being issued no later than 16 April, customers can re-book in the original class of travel that was booked free of charge. All travel must commence by 3 May 2010.

Passengers should contact American Airlines Customer Service or their travel agent - whichever issued their original documents - to discuss re-booking options.

If a passenger’s flight has been cancelled as a result of the volcanic ash cloud disruption and they no longer wish to travel, passengers may request a refund online or through their Travel Agency.

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