Keeping Watch on Iceland Volcanic Activities

Monitoring Bárðarbunga and Holuhraun 

You might recall the major air traffic woes in 2010 and 2011 across Europe when ash from erupting volcanoes in Iceland grounded or diverted airlines.   This had a ripple effect on the travel industry, including the cruise segment.

When the Bardarbunga Volcano eruption over the weekend created lava fountains more than 50m (165ft) high, the Met Office in Iceland raised its ash warning for aviation to red, the highest level.  The level was later reduced to the second highest, orange.

Icelandic Met Office

Bárðarbunga - updated information 

Aviation colour code map

Because of the current seismic activity in nortwestern Vatnajökull, IMO has been allowed to publish the chapter Bárðarbunga System, an extract from a much larger work in progress.

Should Volcanic Ash clouds form, the following additional resources will be helpful:

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 (London) | Issued graphics
• Met Office Volcanic Ash Supplementary products: Concentration charts  | Annotated satellite images
• Toulouse VAA: Issued advisories (Toulouse)

 More information from NOAA about volcanoes.

Ash from the eruption of Grímsvötn (Credit: Icelandic Met Office)

London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

The London VAAC is an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designated centre, responsible for issuing advisories for volcanic eruptions originating in Iceland and the north-eastern corner of the North Atlantic.

Cambridge scientists and PhD students are at the forefront of monitoring the activity of the Bárðarbunga volcano in Iceland.
Watch some amazing footage of the lava flows of the two active volcanic eruptions in Iceland.



   

 

The Sea is Calling You To Adventure in Europe

ADVENTURE of the SEAS®
2013 Summer Europe Deployment

Adventure is seasonally dedicated to Europe giving you more options for a summer vacation abroad. This Voyager class ship is packed with all the action of our signature innovations—and plenty of time for relaxation, fine dining, and beautiful ocean views. Guests can climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or challenge themselves on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course.

DESCRIPTION	SAIL DATE(S) 2013	ITINERARY
14-Night Transatlantic	Apr 21	San Juan, Puerto Rico • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Castries, St. Lucia • Basseterre, St. Kitts • Cruising • Cruising • Cruising Cruising • Cruising • Ponta Delgada, Azores • Cruising • Cruising • Cruising Southampton, England
2-Night Sampler	May 05	Southampton, England • Cruising Southampton, England
2-Night Sampler	May 07	Southampton, England Paris / Normandy (Le Havre), France Southampton, England
15-Night Central Mediterranean	May 09	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Gibraltar, United Kingdom Cruising • Barcelona, Spain Nice (Villefranche), France Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy • Cruising Seville (Cadiz), Spain • Lisbon, Portugal Cruising • Cruising • Southampton, England
7-Night France & Spain	May 24	Southampton, England • Cruising Vigo, Spain • Gijon, Spain • Bilbao, Spain • Cruising • Paris / Normandy (Le Havre), France • Southampton, England
13-Night Iceland & Norway	May 31	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Reykjavik, Iceland (Overnight) • Akureyri, Iceland • Cruising Trondheim, Norway • Alesund, Norway Molde, Norway • Olden, Norway Stavanger, Norway • Cruising Southampton, England
12-Night Baltic	Jun 13, 25	Southampton, England • Cruising Oslo, Norway • Copenhagen, Denmark Cruising • Tallinn, Estonia • St. Petersburg, Russia (Overnight) • Helsinki, Finland • Cruising • Cruising • Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium • Southampton, England
14-Night Mediterranean Cities	Jul 07	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Malaga, Spain • Cruising Cannes, France • Barcelona, Spain Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Valencia, Spain • Cartagena, Spain • Cruising Lisbon, Portugal • Vigo, Spain • Cruising Southampton, England
14-Night Italian Mediterranean	Jul 21	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Malaga, Spain • Cruising Cannes, France • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy Genoa, Italy • Cruising • Gibraltar, United Kingdom • Lisbon, Portugal Cruising • Cruising • Southampton, England
14-Night Italian Mediterranean	Aug 04	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Malaga, Spain • Cruising Nice (Villefranche), France • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • La Spezia, Italy Genoa, Italy • Cruising • Gibraltar, United Kingdom • Lisbon, Portugal Cruising • Cruising • Southampton, England
7-Night Norway	Aug 18, 25	Southampton, England • Cruising Alesund, Norway • Skjolden, Norway Flam, Norway •Stavanger, Norway Cruising • Southampton, England
12-Night Iceland & Norway	Sep 01	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Reykjavik, Iceland (Overnight) • Akureyri, Iceland • Cruising Trondheim, Norway • Alesund, Norway Olden, Norway • Stavanger, Norway Cruising • Southampton, England
16-Night Central Mediterranean	Sep 13	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Gibraltar, United Kingdom Cruising • Barcelona, Spain • Nice (Villefranche), France • Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy • Cruising Malaga, Spain • Seville (Cadiz), Spain Lisbon, Portugal • Cruising • Cruising Southampton, England
14-Night Spain & Canaries	Sep 29	Southampton, England • Cruising Gijon, Spain • Vigo, Spain • Cruising Madeira (Funchal), Portugal • Tenerife, Canary Islands • Gran Canaria, Canary Islands • Cruising • Lanzarote, Canary Islands • Cruising • Lisbon, Portugal • Cruising • Cruising • Southampton, England
14-Night Western Mediterranean	Oct 13	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Malaga, Spain • Cruising Cannes, France • Barcelona, Spain Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Valencia, Spain • Cartagena, Spain • Cruising Lisbon, Portugal • Vigo, Spain Cruising • Southampton, England
8-Night France & Spain	Oct 27	Southampton, England • Cherbourg, France • Cruising • Vigo, Spain Gijon, Spain • Bilbao, Spain • Cruising Paris / Normandy (Le Havre), France Southampton, England
13-Night Transatlantic	Nov 04	Southampton, England • Cruising Cruising • Madeira (Funchal), Portugal Cruising • Cruising • Cruising Cruising • Cruising • Cruising Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Basseterre, St. Kitts • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas San Juan, Puerto Rico

Grímsvötn Volcano Causes Travel Woes

Grímsvötn eruption

Credit: Institute of Earth Sciences

Widespread Flight Cancellations 

Possible as Ash Continues

UPDATE:  25 May -- Bremen & Hamburg (no flights) - Could Impact Berlin & Poland

According to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre(VAAC) in London, areas of ash concentration are over the north of Germany. Currently no flights are being accepted into Bremen and Hamburg. On a normal day, these airports would expect around 120 and 480 flights respectively.  

The ash cloud is expected to move during the day and could affect Berlin and also parts of Poland. Airports in Germany south of Bremen are not expected to be affected.

There are no restrictions on flights in any other part of Europe. According to the VAAC forecasts, it is expected that ash cloud coverage will dissipate during the day.

Related Blog Post ... Iceland Volcanic Ash Grounds Flights

Reminiscent of a year ago, airlines and air traffic controllers across Europe continue to watch and monitor as a cloud of volcanic ash spreads west from Iceland, threatening to disrupt flights on a wide scale.

The ash cloud was expected to reach London's Heathrow airport -- the world's busiest international air travel hub -- this afternoon, Europe's air traffic control organization Eurocontrol said.

Concentration of ash there is expected to be low and it's not yet clear if Heathrow flights will be canceled.

The ash cloud is forecast to cover all of British airspace by 1 a.m. Wednesday morning.

It will be densest over Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, the Met Office said. Heathrow is in the south.

United Kingdom  

• Some flights have been cancelled to and from Leeds Bradford and Humberside Airports today 
• Some flights have been cancelled to Scotland and Northern Ireland at Leeds Bradford Airport
• Eastern Airways has cancelled Aberdeen flights to and from Humberside Airport.
• Disruptions at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports
• Some flight cancellations at both Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports, although the airports themselves remain open
• Morning flights to Aberdeen from Durham Tees Valley as well as later departures to Southampton were cancelled
• At Newcastle Airport, flights to and from Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Faro and Malta were cancelled.

Scotland

• Edinburgh airport is open but passengers are advised to contact their airlines before travelling to the airport. Forecasters say that high density ash is likely from 1pm to 6pm today although disruption may spread into the night. 
• Glasgow airport is also open and is not expecting any disruption today. 
• Inverness airport remains closed. 
• Aberdeen airport is hoping to resume operations from 1pm onwards although there will still be considerable delays and cancellations throughout the day.

Svalbard

• Flights have been cancelled to and from Svalbard. It is unknown when flights will resume.

Denmark

• Danish authorities have closed the airspace below 4 miles in the northwest of the country. 
• This does not directly affect airports but Copenhagen airport is experiencing some delays and cancellations, primarily to Scotland and Greenland destinations, although these are expected to clear by 8.00pm today. 

Northern Ireland 

• Flights are halted into and out of Scotland and the north-east of England. 
• Easyjet flights from Belfast International Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh have been cancelled. 
• Two flights between Belfast and Newcastle and Newcastle and Belfast have also been cancelled. 
• Two Loganair flights between Belfast City Airport and Dundee will also remain grounded.

Norway 

• Both Stavanger and Karmoey airports have been affected with flights being cancelled as the cloud is expected to spread to the south of the country later today. 

Contact your airline if you are flying in the impacted areas.  

Met Office forecasts for the end of this week indicate mainly low levels of ash affecting parts of UK and Europe. This forecast does depend on the status of the Volcano since the wind direction and strength will remain variable. You should stay up to date with the latest advice from the Met Office. How this affects flight routing decisions would be determined by CAA and NATS together with the individual airlines.

 Eruption in Iceland: News | Update | Vatnajökull monitoring | Volcanic ash advisory |

• Photos from the Eruption
   
• Satellite Images and Maps

Current Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA) from London and Toulouse 

London VAA: Issued advisories | Issued graphics     Toulouse VAA: Issued advisories

Latest Ash Impact on Flights Keflavik International Airport  Heathrow airport Ash Concentration UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) EUROCONTROL Icelandic MetOffice (IMO) National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) Track Flights Live Over Europe

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links Volcano halts Icelandic flights (BBC) Latest UK Met Office News Grímsvötn volcano FAQ  Grímsvötn volcanic ash observations Forecasters’ blog  British Geological Survey (BGS) Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland NOAA Satellite and Information Service More information from NOAA about volcanoes EUMETSAT - Monitoring weather and climate from space (volcanic ash page) NASA Earth Observatory - images, stories, discoveries about climate and the environment

Iceland Volcanic Ash Grounds Flights

Grímsvötn eruption
Credit: Institute of Earth Sciences

Iceland: Grímsvötn eruption 

Begins 21 May 2011

Grounds Flights 

UPDATE 24 May, 2011: 

Grímsvötn Volcano Causes Travel Woes

Europe remembers the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption which led to the closure of a large section of European airspace last year. Once again, ash is spewing from a volcano in Iceland, but so far the disruption of air traffic is restricted to Iceland itself.

Grímsvötn volcano, Iceland, began erupting on 21 May 2011, around 18-19 GMT.  Intensive earthquake activity, lasting for about an hour, was observed prior to the eruption.

Disruption of air traffic at Keflavik International Airport  due to the Grímsvötn volcanic eruption More

 Eruption in Iceland: News | Update | Vatnajökull monitoring | Volcanic ash advisory |

‘Significant eruption’ of Grimsvotn likely to bring ash to UK

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

Use the following links to browse for additional news and official information about the Grímsvötn volcanic eruption.

Latest Ash Impact on Flights Keflavik International Airport  Ash Concentration UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) EUROCONTROL Icelandic MetOffice (IMO) National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) Track Flights Live Over Europe

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links Volcano halts Icelandic flights (BBC) Latest UK Met Office News Grímsvötn volcano FAQ  Grímsvötn volcanic ash observations Forecasters’ blog  British Geological Survey (BGS) Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland NOAA Satellite and Information Service More information from NOAA about volcanoes EUMETSAT - Monitoring weather and climate from space (volcanic ash page) NASA Earth Observatory - images, stories, discoveries about climate and the environment

Hopefully this volcanic eruption won't be as devastating to Europe travel as the one which began last April.  We will continue to monitor this story and provide significant updates.

Royal Caribbean 2012 Harwich England

An international port located on the estuary of the rivers Stour and Orwell in northeast Essex, Harwich is one of England's busiest coastal towns. It's also just 69 miles from London. Throughout history, the town has been a crucial port, providing a sheltered anchorage for many ships. The old town of Harwich is a conservation area, where you'll discover many historic buildings. The neighboring town of Dovercourt is a bit more modern, but equally quaint and fascinating to explore.

2012 – Summer Europe & Transatlantic Sailings 


 JEWEL of the SEAS®

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing   Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos 

On May 3, 2012,  JEWEL of the SEAS® sails a 12-Night Eastbound Transatlantic from Miami, Florida to Harwich, England which will serve as its home port for the Summer 2012 season.   On August 31, 2012, the ship will sail a 16-Night Westbound Transatlantic from Harwich to Boston, Massachusetts.

12-Night Scandinavia and Russia

Harwich, England • Cruising Gothenburg, Sweden • Cruising • Tallinn, Estonia
St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight) • Helsinki, Finland • Stockholm, Sweden • Cruising
Copenhagen, Denmark • Cruising Harwich, England

12-Night Fjords and Iceland

Harwich, England • Cruising • Bergen, Norway • Flam, Norway • Geiranger, Norway
Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland • Klaksvik, Faroe Islands • Cruising
Reykjavik, Iceland (overnight) • Cruising • Harwich, England

2012 EUROPE CRUISETOUR DEPLOYMENT

 Get a local's view of the great cities and sights of Europe, as well as its hidden treasures. 

16-Night Paris & London Cruisetour #6EB

Featuring an 12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise
& 4-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Paris & London Land Tour

May 11, 23; June 4, 28; July 10, 22; August 3, 15; 2012

Day 1: Paris
Day 2: Paris
Day 3: Paris/London
Day 4: London
Day 5: London/Harwich
Days 5-17: Jewel of the Seas®
12-Night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise

16-Night Paris & London Cruisetour #6EB

Featuring an 12-Night Fjords & Iceland Cruise
& 4-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Paris & London Land Tour

May 11, 23; June 4, 28; July 10, 22; August 3, 15; 2012

Day 1: Paris
Day 2: Paris
Day 3: Paris/London
Day 4: London
Day 5: London/Harwich
Days 5-17: Jewel of the Seas®
12-Night Fjords & Iceland Cruise

Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012

Tower of London Bridge

British Isles, Iceland & Canary Islands cruises

The British Isles, Iceland and Greenland beckon adventurous travelers with the promise of welcoming shores, fascinating cultures and awe-inspiring landscapes. Sail with Princess Cruises on a journey to the storied cities and natural wonders you’ve always wanted to see.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

• Our popular 12-day British Isles sailing offers the best of England, Ireland and Scotland with a visit to dazzling Paris.
• 7-day Interlude Cruises on large and small ships explore charming ports in England, Ireland and Scotland.
• Sailings of 18 days or longer to remote Iceland and Greenland, some including a transatlantic crossing.
• Ring of Kerry cruisetours pairing a 12-day British Isles cruise with Ireland's most famous attractions.

If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012 

Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012 

Itinerary	Itinerary Highlights†	Ship	2012 Dates
Western Europe Sampler	3 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton)	Grand	Sep 1
Ireland & Scotland Interlude	8 Nights London (Dover), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Waterford, Dublin, Glasgow (Greenock), Edinburgh (Rosyth), London (Dover) Note: These departures will offer an Optional Shore Excursion in Edinburgh to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Ocean	Aug 2, 17
Canary Islands	11 Nights London (Southampton), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 21
Canary Islands	12 Nights London (Southampton), Lisbon, Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Oct 22
British Isles	12 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Dublin, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: 8/1 departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	May 26; Jun 7; Jul 8; Aug 1
British Isles	12 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: 8/13 departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	May 14; Aug 13
Iceland & Norway	12 Nights London (Southampton), Bergen, Olden/Nordfjord, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Ålesund, Akureyri, Reykjavik, London (Southampton)	Caribbean	Jul 20
Iceland, Greenland & British Isles Explorer	14 Nights London (Southampton), Cornwall (Falmouth), Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), St. John’s (Newfoundland), New York (Brooklyn)	Caribbean	Aug 25
British Isles Passage	14 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 7
Western Europe Passage	14 Nights London (Southampton), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Bermuda (West End), Ft. Lauderdale	Grand	Nov 3
Passage to Europe	11 or 15 Nights San Juan, New York (Brooklyn), Halifax, Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), London (Southampton) Note: This voyage may be booked at 11 days from New York, departing May 3 or 15 days from San Juan, departing Apr 29 Apr 29 (15 days)	Caribbean	Apr 29 (15 days) May 3 (11 days)
Iceland, Greenland & Norway Explorer	16 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), New York (Brooklyn)	Emerald	Sep 10
Northern Europe Passage	16 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Dover), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Oslo, Copenhagen	Emerald	Apr 26
British Isles & Canary Islands Grand Adventure®	25 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 7
Canary Islands & Western Europe Grand Adventure®	26 Nights London (Southampton), Lisbon, Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Bermuda (West End), Ft. Lauderdale	Grand	Oct 22
Iceland, Greenland & British Isles Grand Adventure®	26 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton), Cornwall (Falmouth), Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), St. John’s (Newfoundland), New York (Brooklyn) Note: This departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	Aug 13
Northern Europe & British Isles Grand Adventure®	23 or 27 Nights San Juan, New York (Brooklyn), Halifax, Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: This voyage may be booked at 23 days from New York departing May 3 or 27 days from San Juan, departing Apr 29	Caribbean	Apr 29 (27 days) May 3 (23 days)

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.

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

Flights Resume in UK Airspace

UK Civil Aviation Authority

Allows Flights to Resume 

After careful evaluation, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), working closely with aircraft manufacturers and other agencies, has recommended a gradual reopening of UK airspace.

So after six days of ash, Why is it Now Safe to Fly?   This BBC News article, Flights resume as ash fear recedes, says it better than I could.  This was uncharted territory, as the previous time this volcano exploded  was before the dawn of aviation as we know it today.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s independent specialist regulator with oversight of aviation safety, today issues new guidance on the use of airspace. This is issued in conjunction with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and covers the Anglo Irish Functional Airspace Block (FAB).

The new guidance allows a phased reintroduction from 2200 tonight of much of the airspace which is currently closed due to the volcanic ash plume over the UK. There will continue to be some ‘no fly zones’ where concentrations of ash are at levels unsafe for flights to take place, but very much smaller than the present restrictions. Furthermore, the Met Office advise that the ‘no fly zones’ do not currently cover the UK.       Read More

The airlines and airports are working closely together with CAA to resume flights while maintaining passenger safety.  Despite the reopening of the airspace, passengers are encouraged to contact their airline prior to going to the airport.  

British Airways issued the following statement:

UK airspace reopening

We are very pleased that the aviation authorities have opened UK airspace to enable us to begin the task of bringing our stranded customers home, as well as working towards normal operations.

As we have many aircraft and crew out of position, it will still take some considerable time before we can restore our full flying programme. We are working hard to see how many flights we can operate in the days ahead to help our customers.

At this stage we are looking to operate all longhaul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick on Wednesday April 21.

Please check your flight status before departing for the airport.

Check the status of your flight

DO NOT GO TO THE AIRPORT IF YOUR FLIGHT IS CANCELLED.

There will be shorthaul cancellations to and from London airports until 1300 (UK time) on Wednesday 21 April, and possibly beyond that time. We hope to have further updates soon.

BAA Airports BAA owns and operates a number of airports in the UK.

• London Heathrow
• London Stansted
• Glasgow
• Edinburgh
• Aberdeen
• Southampton
• Naples

Please consult the following websites for the latest updates:

MetOffice      EUROCONTROL      NATS    CAA      Track Flights Live Over Europe

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Consult the following for links to Airports, Cruise Line Announcements and other Agencies

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BBC News:  Scientists assess flight risks from Iceland volcano ash

We will continue to monitor this situation and bring you updates on significant events.   Between posts, please use the links provided for latest information.

Ash Continues But Some Planes Fly

North America & Europe Flights   Courtesy: BBC

Limited Flights Allowed

The picture above, courtesy BBC, shows a snapshot of the airspace between the U.S. and Europe.   The red zone is the predicted ash cloud pattern which is still blanketing much of the region.   Some flights were permitted to take to the skies, mainly flying above the ash cloud or in areas not currently in the wind patterns.

Classifying  the situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland as "dynamic" NATS made the following statement:

Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1300-1900 today, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.

Overnight the CAA, in line with new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided flights above the ash cloud will be permitted in the UK; between 1300-1900 this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.

Please consult the following websites for the latest updates:

MetOffice             EUROCONTROL          National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats)


BBC News Article:   Europe starts to resume flights

While there was good news for a few airports across Europe,  London's Heathrow International Airport, the main hub in Europe, remained closed posting the following notice on their website:


Flights suspended until further notice
Last updated: 09:55 BST, Tuesday 20 April 2010
Based on advice from NATS, all flights to and from Heathrow remain suspended until further notice.

EU Officials continue to work on a solution for this growing problem.   Every day the planes remain grounded costs millions of dollars and further extends the recovery period.   

The Cruise Line industry has also been impacted by this natural disaster in many ways.   Passengers have been stranded at airports and unable to join their cruises;  others have not been able to return home following their cruises;   crew members have also suffered the same fate;   there have been long hours for everyone involved in keeping the cruise ships moving.  This is a logistical nightmare not seen in this magnitude since the September 11th terrorist attacks.  

This time of year is typically when the cruise lines reposition their ships from the Caribbean to Europe.   Some have departed already for those journeys while a few will be leaving in the next several days.   Cunard has regularly scheduled crossings between New York and England.   As of this past weekend, there had been some availability on those cruises, and the cruise line's reservations systems were flooded with calls, both from people seeking passage as well as passengers looking for assistance.   Most Trans-Atlantic crossings in the next month are currently sold out and wait-listed.    Cunard indicated that the wait-list had over 1,000 names for example.

Related Blog Posts:

Consult the following for links to Airports, Cruise Line Announcements and other Agencies

Hopes Rise for UK Flight Resumption

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We will continue to monitor this situation and bring you updates on significant events.   Between posts, please use the links provided for latest information.

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.

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