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

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

Weather

 

Europe Travel Woes Continue

Iceland's Ash Cloud  (Credit AP)

Europe Airspace Still Empty

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 at least 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Monday 19 April.  Consult the links below for ongoing updates as this situation is dynamic (based on weather conditions and continued eruptions).

The sky might be blue in the photo above, provided by AP, but the skies over Europe are anything but friendly as Day 3 of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano eruption continues to ground flights across the globe.  Flights to and from Europe remain restricted until 0700 BST on Sunday.  

Some flights may be able to take off from Scotland and Northern Ireland before 1900 BST on Saturday, but most planes will remain grounded.   British Airways has cancelled all short haul flights on Sunday and is still evaluating long haul services.Flights from other countries, including the United States, have been cancelled during the restricted time period.

Related Post (airport links, details about volcanic ash):  Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights


Latest Updates:    Track Flights Live Over Europe
EUROCONTROL Air Traffic Control        National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats)
Also consult individual airports and airline carrier's websites.    

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

The National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said Met Office forecasts showed the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the UK after 1900 BST. A further update is expected at about 2100 BST.

Scientists continue to monitor seismic activity in the region.  See time and magnitude of earthquakes near Mýrdalsjökull (which is the larger ice-cap east of active Eyjafjallajökull) on another map. Note the graph under that map which shows the onset clearly.  Historically, when Eyjafjallajökull is active, so is Mýrdalsjökull.

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links

• Picture gallery including the latest satellite imagery
• Volcanic Ash Slideshow
• Map of dust observations
• 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) ‎

Cruise Line Announcements

• AMAWATERWAYS: Call cruise line for flight or cruise information 
• Avalon Waterways: Europe Airport Closures
• Celebrity Cruises: UK Airport Disruption
• Crystal Cruises: has rebooked flights for affected passengers 
• Cunard : Volcanic Eruption Update
• Disney Cruise Line: ships are mid-cruise so no immediate concerns
• Holland America is working directly with affected passengers
• 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: is unaffected at this time
• Royal Caribbean Important Updates 
• Uniworld: Important Notice about European Airport Closures
• Viking River Cruise:  contact cruise line for assistance

Cruise lines with passengers affected by the flight delays are monitoring the situation.  In some cases, such as Royal Caribbean, rebooking fees are being waived.  In other cases, departure times may be adjusted to allow air-sea passengers to arrive before departure.  Continue to monitor links provided here for updates on conditions and any itinerary changes.

Your travel agent or cruise line may need to contact you directly, so be sure they have your contact information.  Contact your travel insurance provider for assistance.