The Iceland Eyjafjallajokull volcano forces flight delays, airport closures in Ireland, England, and Scotland but London's is Heathrow is open (video)
Ash from the Iceland volcano has prompted more airport closures Sunday across Europe including Ireland and parts of UK including airports in Manchester, Liverpool and in Scotland. London’s Heathrow Airport and Gatwick airports remained open Sunday but could close later this week, European air traffic officials said. More flight disruptions and airport closures are expected this week.
Airports in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man have had to shut down. During the day on Sunday, Dublin and Shannon airports have remained open. But the Irish Aviation Authority said that it will shut down the Dublin airport overnight from 7 p.m.until at least 9 a.m.
Ireland's Waterford airport, about a 2 ½ hour drive south of Dublin, will close Sunday night at 11 p.m. Shannon, Cork and Kerry airports are not scheduled to be closed. In the past, ash in the airspace over Ireland has prompted delays to other European countries including France, Spain and Germany but air traffic officials say that the international air space over Ireland is open.
The British airports at Carlisle, Doncaster, East Midlands, Humberside, Ronaldsway, Prestwick and Leeds Bradford had to close Sunday because of ash.
Airports in Scotland that have closed because of ash from the Iceland volcano include Bara, Campbeltown, and Islay.
Air traffic officials said that depending on wind conditions, there could be even more closures in Britain through Tuesday. The Iceland Volcano ash is the last thing the UK needs right now. Employees at British Airways, the UK’s largest carrier, could go on strike as early as Tuesday.
Passengers are being asked to check in with their airline before leaving for the airport.
Iceland’s international airport was open on Saturday and Sunday after it has to shut down for a time on Friday.
Last week, airports in Spain, the Canary Islands and parts of northern Africa, including Morocco, had to shut down because of the Iceland volcano ash but airports there remained open this weekend.
Meanwhile the Iceland Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to erupt, sending more ash into the air. Click here for live Web camera video.
Those who depend on tourism in Europe are worried that the ash could affect the busy summer tourist season.
There have been minimal delays at San Francisco International Airport.
Comments
To travelers who are stranded because of flight delays, you can find people to stay with at tripping(dot)com --it's a completely free hospitality network. Members are eager to help all around the world, so take advantage of it.
Well it just never ends! I have in-laws stuck in the US trying to get back to the UK; parents and a sister stuck in Ireland trying to get back to the UK (though I just heard they got a plane instead to the south of England instead of Scotland and will take the train up tomorrow) and a best friend stuck in England trying to get back to America. In short, it seems like everyone should just simply stay home LOL.
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