Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Pauses

Flight over Eyjafjallajökull at 14:15      22nd May 2010: 

Possibly the last ash explosion. Photo: Steinunn Jakobsdóttir.

Eruption In Iceland Paused

The latest information from the Icelandic Meteorological Service continues to show that the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull remains paused. Steam is still being emitted from the crater but no significant ash has been ejected since Sunday 23rd May. Issued at 1912 on Tue 25 May 2010.

Scientists are reluctant to declare the volcano as dormant.  It is common for erupting volcanoes to "pause" several times before completely stopping.


The eruption activity is minimal and therefore no significant ashfall is expected. The volcano is still being monitored and an ashfall forecast will be issued if necessary.  There is still a considerable amount of steam coming from the crater, but no ash can be seen in it.

There are currently no advisories or flight interruptions.

Related Links

Icelandic Meteorological Service
Icelandic Volcano Blog (London Met Office)
UK Civil Aviation Authority
National Air Traffic Services

Related Blog Posts

Iceland Volcanic Ash Causes New Woes
New Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Ash
Flights Resume in UK Airspace
Ash Continues But Some Planes Fly

Hopes Rise for UK Flight Resumption
Europe Travel Woes Continue
Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights 

Although no ash is being emitted at the moment, while any volcanic activity continues, the Met Office will continue to monitor the situation and we will continue to bring you breaking developments.

New Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Ash

Heathrow & Gatwick Impacted

Once again a new week starts with flight cancellations caused by the latest volcanic ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. 

Impacted airports include:  Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Liverpool, East Midlands, Birmingham, Teesside, Norwich and Doncaster in England.  Additional airports in the no-fly zone include all those in Northern Ireland, Ronaldsway, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Northern Scotland. Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol and Farnborough.

Useful Links:   CAA   EUROCONTROL  MetOffice    Nats

If you are flying to this part of Europe, please consult your airline directly for latest information.   Cruise line passengers may be impacted if flights are delayed.

Related Blog Posts

Iceland Volcanic Ash Causes New Woes

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Europe Travel Woes Continue

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Hopes Rise for UK Flight Resumption 

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights

Rather than repeat links, please consult these other posts for resources.

 

Iceland Volcanic Ash Causes New Woes

Eyjafjallajökull eruption at noon 8th May 2010. Photo: Gunnar B. Guðmundsson.

Once again volcanic ash has spread across southern France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany Sunday, shutting down airports and disrupting flights across Europe and lengthening trans-Atlantic flights which were forced to avoid the ash cloud.   This latest series of Eyjafjallajökull eruptions began May 4th.

As has been the case all along, this situation is very fluid.   It is best to check the links below for up to date information.   If you are traveling, check with your air carrier and cruise line for any last minute changes.

Nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) around the world are responsible for advising international aviation of the location and movement of clouds of volcanic ash.

Current Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA) from London and Toulouse 
London VAA: Issued advisories | Issued graphics     Toulouse VAA: Issued advisories 


Latest Ash Impact on Flights

• UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
• EUROCONTROL
• MetOffice     
• National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats)
• Track Flights Live Over Europe  

• Airports in Austria
• Munich Airport
• Other Airports in Germany
• Irish Aviation Authority  
• Airports in Spain
• Airports in Italy
• Airports in Portugal
  

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links

• Picture gallery including the latest satellite imagery
• Volcanic Ash Slideshow
• Forecasters’ blog
• Live: Volcanic cloud over Europe (BBC)
• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland
• YouTube - Eyjafjallajökull - You're doing it wrong! 
• Spotlight on Eyjafjallajökull – Southern Iceland (Global Volcanism Program) 
•  NOAA Satellite and Information Service
• More information from NOAA about volcanoes
• Volcanism Blog
• EUMETSAT - Monitoring weather and climate from space (volcanic ash page)
• NASA Earth Observatory - images, stories, discoveries about climate and the environment

Cruise Line Announcements



Note:  Some cruise line links have changed;  check the latest news on the cruise line websites.

• AMAWATERWAYS: Call cruise line for flight or cruise information 
• Avalon Waterways: Europe Airport Closures
• Celebrity Cruises: UK Airport Disruption
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard : Volcanic Eruption Update
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America
• Norwegian Cruise Line:  UK airport disruption due to Icelandic volcanic eruption
• Oceania Cruises: contact cruise line directly
• Princess Cruises: Update on Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Eruption 
• Regent Seven Seas
• Royal Caribbean Important Updates 
• Uniworld: Important Notice about European Airport Closures
• Viking River Cruise:  contact cruise line for assistance

Celebrity Eclipse to the Rescue

Celebrity Eclipse Delivered

MEYER WERFT delivered the new passenger cruise vessel Celebrity Eclipse to Celebrity Cruises on April 15th in the Dutch port of Eemshaven. The Celebrity Eclipse is the third ship out of a series of five cruise ships the shipyard is building for Celebrity Cruises.   This Solstice-Class ship weighs in at 122,000 gross tons and has a capacity of 2,852 passengers.

This event was overshadowed by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland.   Celebrity Eclipse was delivered just in time to be put to use in an unplanned rescue voyage.  The first leg of her launch celebrations, scheduled to begin on April 22, was cancelled in order to assist stranded U.K. travelers returning from their Easter break. 

As I write this column, Celebrity Eclipse is sailing from Southampton, where she arrived on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, to Bilbao, Spain, where she is scheduled to arrive in the early hours of  Thursday, April 22. Stranded travelers will join the ship throughout Thursday morning. The ship will return to Southampton, arriving late Friday evening. This sailing replaces the activities planned during the two-night, round-trip launch celebration cruise from Southampton.

On her new operation, Celebrity Eclipse will collect the delayed vacationers - some delayed by up to seven days - who were on package holidays with major U.K. tour operators. Over 2,000 travelers are currently expected to join Celebrity Eclipse in Bilbao.  Read More

We applaud Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. for once again quickly reacting to natural disasters and putting the full resources of the line to good use. 

As Earth Day approaches, it is significant to note that Celebrity Eclipse is an extremely eco-friendly ship. A total energy saving of about 30% compared to similar ships is achieved by highly energy-efficient components such as a photovoltaic system, optimized hull design (hydrodynamics), a very efficient underwater coating, and an energy-saving lighting system using LEDs.

For more information about Celebrity Eclipse and itineraries,  click here

Hopes Rise for UK Flight Resumption

Eyjafjallajökull ash cloud 17 April 2010. Flight with the Icelandic Coast Guards. 

Photo: Matthew J. Roberts. This phase of the eruption is declining. 
Courtesy: Icelandic Met Office

Ash Plume Subsiding
Hopeful Flights to Resume

According to NATS, "the volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK. Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions we are now looking at a continuously improving situation".

This hopeful news comes none too soon as Day 5 of the flight grounding  continues.  The grounding is costing millions of dollars a day to an already over-taxed industry, stranding tens of thousands of passengers each day, and  interrupting the flow of other commerce.  Even for those that were able to reach their holiday destination, returning home may become so stressful as to have a nullifying effect on the rest and relaxation enjoyed during the vacation.

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday.

From 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday, Scottish airspace will be open, and south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool. Mainland Scottish airports will be open.


(UPDATE) As quickly as hopes rise, they fall.   The airline industry recommends that the aircraft should not be subjected to ash.   The latest update from NATS, based on MetOffice data is as follows:

Since our last statement at 1530 today, the volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK.  This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working.  

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change overnight.  We will make a further statement at approximately 0300 (local time), tomorrow, Tuesday 20 April and again at 0900 (local time).    

I won't repeat the links here, so please consult my previous column, Europe Travel Woes Continue, if you are searching for  updates on your cruise or for other links covering this volcanic eruption.


EUROCONTROL - Updates on European air traffic situation (select date/time and click more)

Cruise lines are operating on schedule for the most part, with some minor itinerary changes.  The lines are working directly with affected passengers in attempts to salvage their cruise vacations.   Where that is not possible, they are working to rebook passengers for alternate cruises.   Passengers that cancel will be subject to normal cancellation polices and should consult with their travel insurance companies regarding compensation.   Polices would have to be in effect prior to the volcanic event to be covered according to insurance spokesmen.

Related Blog Posts:

Europe Travel Woes Continue

Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights

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