The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

I bet there were a few more 'Mr X to Gate 27' anouncements than normal as the deadline approached and woe betide the person who did cause a plane to miss the chance of a take off because they lingered in duty free a little too long

[honey lamb]

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 didn't. I was brought up within sight of it and my dad worked in the aircraft factory alongside it

If anyone hasn't seen it:

ACI - BA009

Cool, watched part 1, and now have to do some work, so I'll have to catch up with the other parts later tonight.

My flight is around 11pm tomorrow night, so I'd really like to know what the expected duration is likely to be.

Mark

Police report they have rounded up suspects thought
responsible for the Cloud of dust closing UK airports: Cleaning
staff responsible for trophy cabinets at the Emirates Stadium
are helping them with their enquiries.....

Police report they have rounded up suspects thought
responsible for the Cloud of dust closing UK airports: Cleaning
staff responsible for trophy cabinets at the Emirates Stadium
are helping them with their enquiries.....

y) y) oo) oo)

Airspace now closed till at least 0700 tomorrow - it'll be a brave person who dispatches an early leaving US flight back home today!

[Darren Wheeler]

NATS are now reporting UK controlled airspace will remain closed until 07:00 Friday with a review tonight at 20:00 for tomorrow to 13:00.

Police report they have rounded up suspects thought
responsible for the Cloud of dust closing UK airports: Cleaning
staff responsible for trophy cabinets at the Emirates Stadium
are helping them with their enquiries.....

Apparently the Icelanders mis-heard Gordon Brown when he said "You owe us some cash"

According to NATS: "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future"

Oh dear.

The 'flights in air now' map here is showing a weird problem - it shows a route path from MCO-MAN, but no plane on that path.

In a couple of hours we might see no VS planes in the air at all... (currently at 7)

I just hope all is back to normal this time next week when I return from SFO...

Crispin

The 'flights in air now' map here is showing a weird problem - it shows a route path from MCO-MAN, but no plane on that path.

Probably VS76 which has not arrived "yet" due to redirect to LGW.

Interesting complex changes to flightplan in the extended details!

VS status:

Flight status CANCELLED
Additional flight status information Due to Volcanic activity in Iceland, this flight has been diverted to Gatwick where it will now terminate. Passengers will be transferred to Manchester by coach.

I always miss the best days in work! There is a silver lining to it all though for anyone living near an airport (like me), the peace and quiet is lovely!

I can only hope that the passengers who remain at the airport during the delays (and the aftermath when things get moving again) don't vent their annoyance at airline or airport staff.

Like Lizz says, I bet folks living near an airport are loving today. It'd be wierd to be in Central / West London and not see the constant stream of aircraft overhead (if LHR is/was landing from the East onto 27L/27R).

Lets hope the volcano settles down soon (although the report on BBC 6 o'clock news said the eruption was getting more severe at one point).

Well what a day, a number of contractors at work have been impacted as they normally fly home on Thursdays, some of them will be enjoying the joys of England for the week end, some are going by train to Paris and hoping to fly from there and 2 have rented a car and are driving to Dusseldorf :0 (sorry about the spelling).

I just hope it'll have all cleared up before our flight to MIA next Thursday.

Miopyk 8D

this is interesting. and i would now like to divert the thread to the self serving crows (that includes me in this occasion) I have a flight back to the UK on Monday (IAH-LHR-MAN on CO)Now if that does not provide a bump opportunity I will be surprised. The question though, what rules apply - they being a non eu airline and all. It was a MAN originating itinerary with CO. Normally i would be all, arrggghhh, but I have no meetings or anything to get back for

Looks like Met Office advising no air traffic for tomorrow as well

I bet folks living near an airport are loving today. It'd be wierd to be in Central / West London and not see the constant stream of aircraft overhead (if LHR is/was landing from the East onto 27L/27R).

).

I live in East London (as my V-Flyer name suggests) and I get constant stream daily of aircraft coming over my garden to front of the house as they approach albeit fairly high (concorde used to ratle my sitting room windows !) - it was bizzare to take tea in the garden this afternoon and not see/hear them - very spooky indeed ii)

[Darren Wheeler]

There's a good chance that this will be ruled as "extraordinary circumstances for the purposes of EU Directive 261/2004.

There's a good chance that this will be ruled as "extraordinary circumstances for the purposes of EU Directive 261/2004.

I agree, would n't even bother writing a letter. A Volcano erupting is certainly outside of the airline's control.

. The question though, what rules apply - they being a non eu airline and all. It was a MAN originating itinerary with CO. Normally i would be all, arrggghhh, but I have no meetings or anything to get back for

Dosent matter ! As long as the flight it to / from an EU country and has an EU license to operate then the rules apply. Though as these delays are caused by natural events the airlines could rely on the 'extraordinary circumstances' exemption.

Afterall the decision not to operate the flights was NOT taken by the airline.

Link to the wiki page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_261/2004

As I sit here in my hotel room at Manchester really hoping that my flight will depart at 1.45pm tomorrow to MCO, I don't feel angry at anyone. However, I would like some info on what what to actually DO. Ringing the airline is a joke. I've been trying all day. We're just waiting for this 8pm update and then we'll ride over to the airport to see if anyone from VA is around to answer my mundane questions. Having been unable to do OLCI, does anyone know at what time we can go over to check in at the airport for the 1.45pm flight as the flight checker still states that the departure time is 1.45pm.

Katie

[Darren Wheeler]

Katie. As frustrating for you as it is, until the 20:00 meeting has been held and a decision made, no-one outside of that meeting knows what will happen.

All I can suggest to you and anyone else affected is to keep checking the VS website for information and cross your fingers. The normal process in these cases is unless you see yor flight cancelled, go to the airport for check-in as normal.

Good luck Katie, Im due to fly on the VS 0049 LGW-MCO tomorrow, but at least i am at home with a glass of wine waiting for the all important 8pm update, lets keep our fingers and toes crossed!

Until NATS gives info on a POSSSIBLE time for lifting the ban then no airline is going to be able to plan their schedules let alone open OLCI etc. Even then the ash might not dissipate as planned and there could be further delays.

Also many planes may be out of place so the chances are you will be delayed anyway as until NATS says 'open for business' then the planes that were prevented from leaving their current destinations won't be able to take off to land in MAN / LHR / LGW etc

I'm afraid it really is wait and see.