The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

This stuff can be extremely dangerous - sounds like good action by NATS but we'll see what the effect on schedules is as the day progresses. BAA is forecasting major disruption and most flights from London to the north of the UK are already cancelled. Manchester looks bad too, with most flights today cancelled.

how long does it last ?or is it how the wind blows ?

[honey lamb]

Eeek! I've just checked on the Cork Airport website. The only flight which has left this morning has been to Malaga. Amsterdam, LHR, LGW and Munich have all been cancelled so far. Thank goodness I'm not flying today :0

how long does it last ?or is it how the wind blows ?

The wind is coming directly from Iceland. I'd say that flights to north America will be re-routed to a more southerly direction

We're due to fly from Manchester on the 073 to MCO tomorrow afternoon. If the 075 doesn't fly from Manchester today - does anyone know the protocal for rescheduling them? We were driving to Manchester today & staying overnight so now we're wondering what to do. I suppose we'll just have to do OLCI at 1.45 and then drive down and see what happens.

Katie ][|)

[honey lamb]

We're due to fly from Manchester on the 073 to MCO tomorrow afternoon. If the 075 doesn't fly from Manchester today - does anyone know the protocal for rescheduling them? We were driving to Manchester today & staying overnight so now we're wondering what to do. I suppose we'll just have to do OLCI at 1.45 and then drive down and see what happens.

Katie ][|)

VS75 today has been cancelled. I'd suggest you check with VS direct

I just looked and saw that the VS076 back to Manchester today was cancelled so presumably, there won't be an aircraft for today's VS075 even if they get the all-clear at 1PM as they are expecting. I will ring VA but I'm not expecting to get through.

Katie

Looks like VS have cancelled those flight with a routing close to Iceland - last nights 24 from LAX reads "Due to Volcanic activity in Iceland, this flight has been delayed. Passengers will be re-booked to travel on flight VS124 on the 15th Apr"

Similar messages in respect of cancelled flights today from Shanghai & Tokyo both of which have been rescheduled to tomorrow.

This week isn't the best time to wash your car..

Remember Volcanic Ash is basically pulverized rock, that could congeal on impact/settling...Not the best stuff to suck into an engine.....

[Neil]

I just looked and saw that the VS076 back to Manchester today was cancelled so presumably, there won't be an aircraft for today's VS075 even if they get the all-clear at 1PM as they are expecting. I will ring VA but I'm not expecting to get through.

Katie

The VS76 that was due in to MAN this morning was diverted to LGW, so that is going to impact with the a/c being in the wrong location.

Today's forecast

The red line is ground level.

Looks like most of the UK is closed down - some reports it may last several days.

I remeber this happening about 10+ years ago and effected flights for around a week - it is serious stuff. BBC says it will move over the UK my 1pm not be cleared as it is till bellowing out.

And as NH said dont go washing your car or house windows unless you like them scored !

The Senior Ponds are sweating it out in the LGW Clubhouse at present waiting to see if VS029 is still going out. The word so far is 'yes', but it's left them feeling a tad edgy to say the least. If it gets cancelled for the foreseable, it's going to be a hell of a slog back up to Leeds...

Not often you see UK airspace looking like this.

LGW and LHR have just now been closed according to Sky news and may remain closed for several days.

Latest airspace graphics can be found here.

It's not looking good.
May push some carriers back against the wall.

LGW and LHR have just now been closed according to Sky news and may remain closed for several days.

According to the BBC, LHR and LGW will cease all flights from 12 noon. Hopefully the senior VPonds will get out before then. We have a couple more v-flyers on morning flights, hopefully they too will get out.

Problem is, this north easterly weather is forecast to last a few more days. We could be in for disruption till the weekend ...

Senior Ponds have been called for boarding. Fingers crossed they get off now. I'll never hear the end of it if they don't...

I'm letting the train take the strain back from EDI today; just gearing myself up for standing for 3.5 hours . The hotel staff and taxi drivers have been very good about letting people know....

Im meant to be flying tomorrow lgw-mco vs0049!!

Looks unlikely..................

Hopefully this image is wrong!

Are we heading for a record minimum today?

The BA website is running the headline that both London airports are closed for departures from 11.30 am.

Senior Ponds have been called for boarding. Fingers crossed they get off now. I'll never hear the end of it if they don't...

Let us know - I do hope they have their flight (and a safe one) although BBC had just reported that Gawick has just come to a halt

BBC have cancelled all their flights today and offering refunds but no compensation or hotel accomodation in the UK or overseas (quiet understandably really).

Good summary of prospects here.

As just reported on BBC news , NATS have already closed the airspace till 6pm today unless there is an emergence so why are flights being boarded ?

Either the BBC are incorrect (again) for there is some compensation for airlines to board pax and hold them on the ground for a few hours ????

Looks like all airspace is being closed from mid-day today, incoming flights susupended at the moment.

David