The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

This has just appeared on Facebook:

Due to volcanic ash from Iceland the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have closed parts of UK Airspace that will be affected. As a result flights to and from UK airports will be disrupted.

We are having a few technical issues with our website, which we are working to fix. In the meantime I'll keep you updated on here. If you can let everyone and anyone you know that is due to be travelling today please pass on the following information:

The following flights have been cancelled

Departing from the UK

VS75 15 April 2010 Manchester Orlando
VS45 15 April 2010 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS11 15 April 2010 London Heathrow Boston
VS1 15 April 2010 London Heathrow New York Newark
VS9 15 April 2010 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS17 15 April 2010 London Heathrow New York Newark
VS601 15 April 2010 London Heathrow Johannesburg
VS23 15 April 2010 London Heathrow Los Angeles

The following flights have been delayed 24 hours

VS251 15 April 2010 Shanghai London Heathrow
VS901 15 April 2010 Tokyo London Heathrow
VS24 14 April 2010 Los Angeles London Heathrow
VS 401 15 April 2010 Dubai London Heathrow
VS 672 15 April 2010 Nairobi London Heathrow
VS 301 15 April 2010 Delhi London Heathrow
VS 652 15 April 2010 Lagos London Heathrow

Passengers on delayed flights should check flight status before departing for the airport:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fl ... /index.jsp

Affected passengers should contact their travel agents or for direct bookings only, call our flight disruption line on 0844 209 7706 to make a booking on the next available flight.
• Virgin Holidays customers should contact them directly on 0844 557 4002. (Passengers who are overseas should make contact with their local Virgin Holidays representative)
• Virgin Holidays Cruises customers should call 0871 226 8185.

It is our intention to carry passengers to their destination at the earliest opportunity when our flying programme has fully resumed however space is limited and it could take some days before all passengers are accommodated. The following alternative options are therefore also available to passengers:


We offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and disappointment this situation has caused.

VS2,VOGE; VS20, VROC; VS44 VAST all over the west country at the moment - look as though they are turning south.

I am sitting in the Heathrow Clubhouse sipping a glass of bubby
before boarding 11.30 VS019 to SFO. It is lookin like we may be
one of the last flights out today. I can see no information regarding disruption on the VA web site.

oldboy

Accoriding to a friends posting on FB (an Air Mover for the RAF)The RAF can cancelled all routine flights from Brize (and other air stips in England (not sure about the UK)) with immediate effect until 20100415 1600hrs zulu when the situ will be reassed.
We have a close friend due to return tomorrow from Afghanistan tomorrow so looks like we will have to wait a few days longer to welcome him home.

Good to see the D**ly M**l taking it calmly on their website

"Britain cut off from the world"

One contributor claims it's all due to the CERN project causing black holes that are consuming the earth's core...

Now looks as though they are skirting the cloud and trying to beat the closure.

[Darren Wheeler]

Good to see the D**ly M**l taking it calmly on their website

"Britain cut off from the world"

One contributor claims it's all due to the CERN project causing black holes that are consuming the earth's core...

I heard is was due to a space worm eating Venus.

Seriously though...

NATS is currently saying a 6-hour shutdown, hardly end of the world stuff.

On the plus side, we should get some spectacular sunsets over the coming days, maybe even a blue moon.

[Pete]

I'm still seeing a scheduled departure for the VS007 at 11.50 - is that going to be the last Virgin flight out today?

I am due to fly back from Toronto tomorrow night. I will see what Air Canada have to say on my chances.

Good to see the D**ly M**l taking it calmly on their website

"Britain cut off from the world"

One contributor claims it's all due to the CERN project causing black holes that are consuming the earth's core...

How long before they blame Gordon B as trying to distract from the election.

Just waiting for the headling

'Volcanic Ash Ate my Holiday'

Good to see the D**ly M**l taking it calmly on their website

"Britain cut off from the world"

How long before they blame Gordon B as trying to distract from the election.

I wouldn't put it past him you know. If fact, he'll probably be blaming it on the Conservatives by tonight...

The Senior Ponds were - apparently - airborne at 10:48, thank goodness. The best of British to all those trying to get in/out of the country over the next few hours (days?).

My daughter is flying to NY on Saturday, she will be gutted if it is still causing problems.

Good to see the new flight status work well. A colleague is on VS03 and the new tool said it was to depart at 10:55, an hour before VS's site.

Now saying 11:15, fingers crossed! :0

The Senior Ponds were - apparently - airborne at 10:48, thank goodness.

Glad to hear it.Visions of a fast take off pursued by broiling clouds of ash, a bit like one of the scenes in "Independence Day".

They may, of course, never be able to get back and will be forced to live out their days barefoot on a sunlit beach with a limited diet of fresh fish, goat curry and rum....

Good to see the D**ly M**l taking it calmly on their website

"Britain cut off from the world"

One contributor claims it's all due to the CERN project causing black holes that are consuming the earth's core...

How long before they blame Gordon B as trying to distract from the election.

Just waiting for the headling

'Volcanic Ash Ate my Holiday'

I blame Ben .

As he visited the Vulcano the other day and knowing him like I and others do, he probably wore his speedos = no wonder the Volcano got over excited

[Scrooge]

Funny, Mrs Scrooge mentioned the fact that Ben had just visited the island.

Where is the boy now so we can warn the locals ?

On a serious note, good luck to all those that have to travel in the next couple of days.

Well, I was due to fly to Faro today from Blackpool (how many people just collapsed at the fact Blackpool has an airport? ), was due out 07:20am but the flight was cancelled at 07:50am.

I decided to take the refund Jet2 was offering as I was going for three days and thought there would be no point in attempting to travel tomorrow as the new uni term starts on Monday, so staying out for three whole days was out of the question.

I saw this coming after checking BBC News on my phone before the cancellation and reading about other airports grinding to a halt.

The Senior Ponds were - apparently - airborne at 10:48, thank goodness.

Glad to hear it.Visions of a fast take off pursued by broiling clouds of ash, a bit like one of the scenes in "Independence Day".

Perhaps you should add this to the recent post about nervous flyers...?

They may, of course, never be able to get back and will be forced to live out their days barefoot on a sunlit beach with a limited diet of fresh fish, goat curry and rum....

They may well have to. I would however, as their ever-loving son, need to move out there with them to ensure they could cope in their dotage.

Good to see the new flight status work well. A colleague is on VS03 and the new tool said it was to depart at 10:55, an hour before VS's site.

Now saying 11:15, fingers crossed! :0

Phew! VS03 took off 11:47.

[mitchja]

All UK & Irish airspace now completely closed from 12:00 until at least 18:00 at the earliest.

Nothing landing or taking off anywhere in the UK until further notice :0

VS finally have something on their website - http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... /index.jsp

The following flights have been cancelled:

Departing from the UK:

Flight number Departure date Departing from Going to
VS75 15th April 2010 Manchester Orlando
VS45 15th April 2010 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS11 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Boston
VS1 15th April 2010 London Heathrow New York Newark
VS9 15th April 2010 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS17 15th April 2010 London Heathrow New York Newark
VS601 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Johannesburg
VS23 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Los Angeles
VS250 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Shanghai
VS900 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Narita
VS21 15th April 2010 London Heathrow Washington

Departing from other Airports:

Flight number Departure date Departing from Going to
VS46 15th April 2010 New York JFK London Heathrow
VS12

15th April 2010 Boston London Heathrow
VS2 15th April 2010 New York Newark London Heathrow
VS10 15th April 2010 New York JFK London Heathrow
VS602 15th April 2010 Johannesburg London Heathrow
VS24 15th April 2010 Los Angeles London Heathrow
VS251 15th April 2010 Shanghai London Heathrow
VS22 15th April 2010 Washington London Heathrow


The following flights have been delayed 24 hours:

Flight number Departure date Departing from Going to
VS251 15th April 2010 Shanghai London Heathrow
VS901 15th April 2010 Tokyo London Heathrow
VS24 14th April 2010 Los Angeles London Heathrow
VS401 15th April 2010 Dubai London Heathrow
VS672 15th April 2010 Nairobi London Heathrow
VS301 15th April 2010 Delhi London Heathrow
VS652 15th April 2010 Lagos London Heathrow

This could look interesting as new frames are added.

According to this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8621682.stm

Most pax appear to understand the situation.

The the comment about not flying through the cloud might be sensible if it was relativly stable and concise but this cloud is covering 1,000 of square miles and rapidly expanding.

And according to BBC News 24 - BA has cancelled all flights until 6am tomorrow morning.

Looks like the VS5 and 19 got out just before the curfew - lucky for them.

Just out walking the dogs on the common, strange to see no aircraft in the sky but did notice a big lovely QF A380 just before noon and I see on BAA that it was airborne a full 20 mins before schedule, so looks like a few airlines were pushing them out!