UK airports open after airspace restrictions lifted one week after Iceland volcano erupted. United Kingdom (UK) officials announced Tuesday that the UK airspace will open at 10 pm (5 pm ET); this comes after a week of closure because of an ash cloud that has left airplanes grounded. Tuesday morning, approximately half of the regular flights over Europe were allowed back in the skies.
Tuesday morning, half of regularly scheduled flights were allowed to resume flight over Europe, but the volcano continues to create ash and has many travelers concerned. 14,000 flights are scheduled to take off in Europe on Tuesday, and those flights were restricted to above 20,000 feet.
The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is allowing a phased reintroduction Tuesday night April 20.
The CAA said, “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.”
“Making sure that air travelers can fly safely is the CAA’s overriding priority,” the CAA said.
To see incredible photos of the massive Iceland ash cloud, click here.
Last Wednesday, the Iceland volcanic eruption created a massive ash cloud that has hung over Europe for the past six days. The volcano occurred below the glacial ice in Iceland and the cold water chilled the lava very quickly and created small pieces of glass that were carried up into the ash cloud. It is dangerous for airplanes to fly in these conditions, so tens of thousands of flights in and out of Europe were cancelled over the last week.
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