Flights are going nowhere for the moment.
Flights to and from Australia over UK airspace have all been cancelled until Saturday at the earliest because of the continuing threat from volcanic ash.
The UKs major airports that operate flights to and from Australia have all been affected. This means that people due to travel to Australia now face their flights being cancelled, and those trying to travel back from Australia will be stranded.
Hundreds of thousands of people will be trying to return to the UK from Easter breaks in Australia and beyond. They now face a lengthier stay than they anticipated. Those staying with relatives and friends will be better off than those who will now have to fork out extra cash for hotel rooms and meals.
Anxious travel passengers have also been told that not all flight costs will be refunded fully, passengers will have to check with the airline company and their own travel insurance to find out if they are covered.
The UK Air Traffic Control Body, NATS, said last night that it was “unprecedented” in the history of UK aviation to not have a single aircraft leave operating out of the UK’s major airports. There was some movement today however as flights to Northern Ireland, western Scotland and the Isle of Man were allowed out. Dublin airport is also hoping to get some US bound flights off the ground this morning.
Meanwhile the Icelandic volcano is still spewing out volcanic ash with no signs of stopping. The Met Office warned that easterly winds were still blowing the cloud over much of Europe and that this wind would not subside until the weekend. Meanwhile experts monitoring the volcano have stated that the eruptions are now coming in pulses rather than a continuous stream, adding to hopes that it may subside.
This is little consolation to the hundreds of thousands of passengers who now face cancelled holidays. Even when flights do resume it could take days for things to get back to normal. Meanwhile we’d like to hear from you, did you have a flight to Australia booked? Or are you holidaying in Australia and are desperately trying to catch a flight back to the UK. Let us know your story by filling in the comments box below.
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