Air Space Restrictions Continue Following Volcanic Eruption
Posted April 16, 2010 7:19 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Frustration for transatlantic and European travelers continued Friday as thousands of flights have been cancelled thanks to a massive cloud of volcanic ash.
Thirteen Europe-bound flights at Pearson International Airport have been cancelled between Friday and Saturday morning. Scott Armstrong of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said the closure of some European airspace hasn’t had an operational impact at Pearson, aside from the cancelled flights.
Several European countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Belgium, closed their airspace after the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland erupted Wednesday for the second time this month, spewing out the cloud of ash that has grounded thousands of flights.
About 60 trips between Asia and Europe were also cancelled Friday.
The no fly zones have affected Europe’s largest air hubs, including London’s Heathrow Airport, Charles De Gaulle in Paris and Frankfurt airport.
One Air Transat flight was cleared to depart Scotland for Toronto, and there are reports a Thomas Cook flight from Vancouver had been allowed to leave for Scotland, although it was diverted to Manchester.
The French Civil Aviation said it plans to open a four-hour window Friday to allow some planes to land at three Paris airports.
On a normal day the European air traffic agency, Eurocontrol, would handle about 28,000 flights. On Friday the agency expected approximately 11,000.
The hazardous cloud, invisible from the ground, is drifting between 6,000 meters and 11,000 meters high. The sharp particles could cause aircraft engines to shut down.
Polish officials closed down some airspace over their nation and there’s worry the ash cloud may affect travel plans for international dignitaries, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama, planning to attend the funeral for President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, in Krakow Sunday.
Some restrictions were lifted in parts of Europe, including Sweden and Norway, where skies in the far north were declared safe again. Irish officials reopened airports in Dublin and Cork.
With files from the Canadian Press
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