(Dive Travel Business News - April 20, 2010) -- Since Thursday April 15, 2010, the blanket of ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in Iceland has forced the cancellation of at least 70,000 flights, stranding travelers at airports around the world and grinding sectors of Europe's economy to a halt.
Today, fliers from all over the globe are seeing some hope as airports are gradually opening up.This is good news for those dive destinations in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean with a predominantly European clientele where vacations have been postponed after almost a week of flight cancellations.
The Eurocontrol air traffic agency in Brussels said it expects some 55 to 60% of flights over Europe to go ahead today, a marked improvement over the last few days. By midmorning, 10,000 of Europe's 27,500 daily flights were scheduled to go.
Only limited flights were allowed to resume in the U.K.. Some flights have resumed in Scotland and northern England. London airports — a major hub for thousands of daily flights worldwide — will remained closed for at least another day due to new danger from the invisible ash cloud. Airports remain closed in Ireland. Aer Lingus canceled all flights today. Flights in U.K. airspace above 20,000 feet are to be permitted later today.
Ash that had drifted over the North Sea from the volcano in southern Iceland has been pushed back over Britain today by shifty north winds, Icelandic scientists say. A new ash plume from another eruption that occurred Monday evening is lower, which scientists hope will be less disruptive.
Airports in Norway have reopened although the new wave of ash forced Norway to close airports on the southwestern coast from Stavanger to Kristiansand. Oslo's Gardermoen international airport reopened late Sunday night, and Oslo terminals, Torp and Rygge, opened Monday morning.
Airspace over northern and central Sweden is open. Stockholm's Arlanda airport is open to flights to and from the U.S. and some European destinations. The airports in Goteborg and Malmo are closed. Overflights at high altitude are permitted across the country.
The Finnish aviation authority closed airspace today and has extended flight restrictions until Wednesday. Authorities had opened it briefly Monday.
Danish airspace above 16,600 feet is open, so long-haul flights can cross Denmark at high altitude. There is no landing in Denmark. Airspace under 16,600 feet remains closed until early Wednesday.
The German airline Lufthansa got a waiver to bring 50 long-haul planes carrying about 15,000 passengers home flying at low altitudes, and the country's overall airspace was to open starting this afternoon
Limited flights from the Paris airports in France to several international destinations resume today, and most French airports are now open to limited traffic.
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport lists both canceled and departed flights this morning after the Dutch government approved flights under certain conditions. KLM lists about 40 flights due to arrive or depart.
Austrian airspace remains open after permission to resume takeoffs and landings took effect Sunday evening. Some flights continue to be canceled but the situation improving.
Polandish authorities closed airspace today until further notice.
Most of southern Europe remains clear. Spain reopened its airports Monday, with Spain volunteering to be an emergency hub for overseas travelers trying to get home.
Swiss airspace reopened to regular traffic today.
Italian officials say a handful of domestic flights have resumed through Milan, Verona, Turin and other northern points of Italy as Italy starts the process of reopening all its airports.
Most of central Europe's airports are now open.
Inbound flights are now gradually resuming to airports that have opened in Europe. Some flights resumed early today from Asia to southern Europe, and flights began flowing to Europe from Cairo, where at least 17,000 people were stranded.
To deal with the ongoing ash issue, European Union transit ministers have divided northern European skies into three areas: a "no-fly" zone still cloaked in the ash cloud; a caution zone that contained "some contamination" where planes can fly subject to engine checks for damage; and an area where flights could operate freely.
Volcanic ash poses a danger because particles melt inside jet engines, depositing glass that can disrupt airflow and block cooling vents. That can trigger engine failures or expensive maintenance. Damage often can't be detected without inspections.
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