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#743293 by MCO1025
16 Apr 2010, 20:54
Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Friday April 16, 2045

The volcanic ash cloud continues to affect UK airspace. Following the latest update from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 1300 (UK time) on Saturday April 17.

There are currently no airspace restrictions in Scotland, Northern Ireland and in an area over the North Sea that includes the Shetlands and Orkney Isles. Manchester, Liverpool and all airports North of those may be available from 0400 (UK time) – 1000 (UK time) for departures to and arrivals from the North and West subject to individual co-ordination. However, please be advised that the situation is continuously changing. Forecasts indicate that the ash cloud is expected to return over Northern England at 1000 (UK time) and it is likely that restrictions will be reintroduced.

Please note these arrangements do not mean that all flights will operate. Anyone hoping to travel today or tomorrow should contact their airline before going to the airport.

We are looking for opportunities when the ash cloud moves sufficiently for us to enable some flights to operate under individual coordination with ATC.

We will review further Met Office information and at 0900 (UK time) on Saturday we will advise further arrangements.

We continue to work closely with airports, airlines, and the rest of Europe to understand and mitigate the implications of the volcanic eruption.
#743294 by northernhenry
16 Apr 2010, 20:55
tontybear wrote:
northernhenry wrote:
So least some good may come of all this........

Or not?


Me thinks Mrs NH has been putting sunstances in her beloved hubby's tea !

:D :D :D :D


Gullible Pills... :|

What are sunstances anyway ?|
#743295 by tontybear
16 Apr 2010, 20:56
northernhenry wrote:
What are sunstances anyway ?|


they make you feel all sunny and stancy !

8D 8D
#743297 by nibbs
16 Apr 2010, 21:00
tontybear wrote:
northernhenry wrote:
What are sunstances anyway ?|


they make you feel all sunny and stancy !

8D 8D



...in that case, pass it round - I think there are a few people on here (me included) that could do with a bit of that!
#743299 by Decker
16 Apr 2010, 21:09
My understanding would be that if you were on work travel then the company would be pushed to insist you take it as holiday but if you were on holiday they would be well within their rights. It is unusual for a company NOT to be able to tell employees when they have to take holiday although normally we reserve this right for Christmas and the New Year.
#743301 by nibbs
16 Apr 2010, 21:26
Just been thinking about plan B, C, D etc. if we don't get away on Sunday.

If we can't fly for a few days, we'd probably cancel our holiday (self booked rather than through a travel agent) and book it again for later in the year.

If (and I dread to think of the consquences if this did happen) this disrupted UK airspace for many weeks to come, would insurance companies payout on the basis that you would have booked your holiday after the event began?

I'm pretty sure the answer would be no, although I guess VS would at least still honor a flight change.

Of course, all of the airlines would be bankrupt way before this happened......

nibbs
#743302 by Scrooge
16 Apr 2010, 21:50
I really can't see the insurance companies paying out anything, unless you have super "anything goes wrong" insurance.

I am wondering the longer this goes on the more we should look at other ways of getting people back to the UK.

Of course the easy way would be to route through Spain then take a train up to Paris and chunnel it across.

Other than that the only other way I can see is jumping on one of the many cruise ships that are about to reposition to Europe for the summer season.
#743307 by mitchja
16 Apr 2010, 22:30
Scrooge wrote:I am wondering the longer this goes on the more we should look at other ways of getting people back to the UK.

Of course the easy way would be to route through Spain then take a train up to Paris and chunnel it across.


The problem is EuroStar is completely booked up. Eurostar have been quoted as saying Thursday & Friday were their busiest 2 days on record. Cross channel ferries are the same too, for the next couple of days. All the non-air operators have said if you don't have a ticket for their service then please don't turn up.
#743318 by tontybear
16 Apr 2010, 23:11
Scrooge wrote:Hang on a min, this damn ash cloud has to clear, Dr V has a trip planned soon, which means a Dr V TR.

Missing out on that would be grounds for going to war with Iceland no ?


i) i) i)

And aren't the 'senior ponds' (surely he means 'lakes') on holiday too and young tizer (code name 'puddle') has been drawing pics of volcanos - maybe shes trying to drop hints.

All very suspicious ...
#743319 by HWVlover
16 Apr 2010, 23:15
The question is:

when to cancel the peripherals eg canine hotels, chav city at LGW etc?

?|
#743320 by mdvipond
16 Apr 2010, 23:18
Scrooge wrote:Hang on a min, this damn ash cloud has to clear, Dr V has a trip planned soon, which means a Dr V TR.

Missing out on that would be grounds for going to war with Iceland no ?

Rest assured, Uncle Scrooge, nothing would delight me more than to be able to provide you all with a TR or two, but I'm becoming excessively gloomy about the prospect of heading off to BGI next week.

As to a war with Iceland, I feel, without any hint of doubt, that the time to employ a 'scorched earth' policy against Kerry, Jason et al is upon us...
#743322 by HWVlover
16 Apr 2010, 23:21
Well at least this has provided one of the better jokes along the lines of:
What is the difference between an Icelandic volcano and Cheryl Cole? ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ):
#743323 by tontybear
16 Apr 2010, 23:29
HWVlover wrote:Well at least this has provided one of the better jokes along the lines of:
What is the difference between an Icelandic volcano and Cheryl Cole? ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ): ):


if this involved a bi-directional prawn ring I so don't want to know !
#743328 by RobL
17 Apr 2010, 01:15
Whilst I have the utmost sympathy for those who had their plans changed work and holiday - it must be amazing for all for those people who live around flight paths to have a couple of days of peace. I am in no way suggesting the closure of UK (and European) airspace is a good thing but as they say every cloud has a silver lining - just in this case for someone else. I hope all who are caught up in this get alternate plans made.

Rant on; I am also amazed (I know I shouldn't be) about the whiny people I have been reading about on the various news channels' 'are you affected' items. I just think they are not hurt or injured just inconvenienced and (a little bit harsh I know) if they have all these 'issues' maybe they should have just stayed at home (in their home countries) in the first place. Rant off.
#743330 by ukcobra
17 Apr 2010, 02:48
Rats, that will mean I need to head West instead of East mid week then.
#743331 by spiceke
17 Apr 2010, 03:28
Just read a thread about people being stuck in LA etc - I am now stuck in Orlando as VS04 from JFK to LHR has now been cancelled for 17/4 (had to cancel my JetBlue flights up to JFK).

Anyway -speaking with a family member this afternoon back in the UK she said there was an article in the Daily Mail (I know, many of you don't like it, but I do) that quoted some bod from some insurance association who said there was no such thing as 'an act of God' that was enforable in insurnce policies. Every policy must state what, and what is not, covered.

I didn't write down verbatim what they said, but that was the gist of it.

Hope that is right !

I suppose I go right to the back of the queue for a return flight - my flight was cancelled on the 3rd day so assuming the first 2 days will have been filling up all the available space when they get going again that doesn't leave too much space for the 3 of us.

Some 'finger in the air' maths says that if the flights were previously running at 50% capacity then Thurs will fill up Sunday's flights, Friday / Sunday, and Saturday will fill Mondays. But, of course, the flaw in that argument is that they probably run 80% full so I reckon I will be on a flight some time on Friday / Saturday.

Who knows as I can't get through to VS, even on the Au line.

Oh wll, off to pour another Bud !
#743336 by Bazz
17 Apr 2010, 07:51
It's getting worse folks:

Updated 04.15

"NATS advises that restrictions across UK controlled airspace have been extended until at least 1900 (UK Time) today Saturday 17 April and that restrictions to Scottish and Manchester airspace have been re-applied until the same time."
#743337 by flabound
17 Apr 2010, 08:10
if anyone is stuck in orlando and cant find accomodation i have a friend with a place in davenport, happy to ring him and see if its empty.

afraid ours is too far away and locked down to offer as temp shelter
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