Puyehue Volcano Erupts in Southern Chile Disrupts Flights

Puyehue Volcano Eruption    AFP PHOTO/CLAUDIO SANTANA

Chile: Volcanic Ash Cloud

Grounds Flights in Australia, 

New Zealand, South America

See Updates Below

A volcanic ash cloud in Chile delayed flights across South America and Australia on Monday, stranding thousands of travelers. On the 4th of June 2011, the Cordón Caulle volcano complex in Chile erupted approximately 50,000ft (15,000m) into the atmosphere. The Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) began issuing advice to the aviation industry on the location of the ash plume and its expected movement.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) - location and movement of clouds of volcanic ash

The volcano has remained active and as of the 9th of June, the ash plume from the original eruption has traveled across the southern Atlantic Oceans and under Africa to stretch into the Indian Ocean. Volcanic ash is affecting the areas of responsibility of three Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres: Buenos Aires, Toulouse and Darwin.

Airline Updates on Ash Cloud Disruptions

Australia's two largest airlines made different decisions on how to deal with ash from a Chilean volcano Tuesday, with Qantas Airways Ltd. continuing to suspend some flights but Virgin Australia Ltd. resuming all services.

Latest information on Qantas flight disruptions due to Chilean Volcano

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA GUESTS 

Photos

Photos taken by Chilean Air Force of the Eruption

Photos: Puyehue Volcano Erupts in Southern Chile | Denver Post Media Center — Denver, Colorado, Photos and Video

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates.   Contact your airline / airport for the latest updates for your particular flight schedule.

Update: Wednesday, June 15th - Volcanic Ash Cloud Moving Across New Zealand and continues to disrupt flights

Update: Friday, June 17th - Many flights are returning to normal but there are still some delays, consult the links above for latest status.


Update Saturday, June 18th - Virgin Australia Operations return to normal scheduled services to all destinations from midnight Friday, 17 June 2011

Update Wednesday, June 22nd:  Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile continues to cause flight disruptions to the Qantas network. The volcanic ash plume has now drifted over New Zealand, resulting in the ongoing suspension of all Pacific Blue services to and from New Zealand.

Update Friday, June 24th:  

Ash Cloud Returns to Argentina

The ash cloud produced by the Chilean Puyehue volcano has again forced the cancellation of a number of flights across Patagonia, said to be due to the shift in wind patterns, and is predicted to reach Buenos Aires Province over the course of the next few hours. Lan Argentina and Aerolíneas Argentinas cancelled flights to Neuquén and Comodoro Rivadavia on Thursday morning, despite announcing that services toward the south were back to normal. Flights to Río Gallegos, Ushuaia and El Calafate have also been cancelled. As of Thursday afternoon, ash cloud activity was observed over the northern part of Patagonia and is expected to reach Buenos Aires Province and central zones of the country over the coming hours due to new wind movement. Currently Aerolíneas Argentinas' inbound and outbound flight services are still suspended at the following airports: Bariloche, Chapelco, Trelew, Viedma, Ushuaia, Río Grande, Comodoro Rivadavia, Esquel, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Bahía Blanca, and Mar del Plata. 

Updated Tuesday, 28 Jun 2011 at 1:00AM AEST

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA GROUP OF AIRLINES SERVICES RETURNING TO NORMAL