The UK is closed for business

[xxMATTGxx]

To add on my post above:

Three Royal Navy ships will be drafted to help return Britons stranded abroad as UK airspace remains restricted.

The move was announced after the UK's emergency committee Cobra met to discuss options in addressing travel chaos caused by a volcanic ash cloud.

The ships HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ocean and HMS Albion are heading for Spain and unspecified Channel ports.

On Monday morning, flight restrictions were extended by air traffic control service Nats to 0100 BST Tuesday.

Planes were first grounded in the UK at midday on Thursday amid fears particles in the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajoekull could cause engines to shut down.

Travel agents' association Abta said its "rough estimate" was that 150,000 Britons are currently stranded abroad, and rail and ferry services have been stretched to the limit by passengers seeking other means to return.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8628878.stm


EuroControl:

OPEN: South Europe, incl. PT ES, parts of IT and FR, Balkans, BG GR and TR +parts of northern Europe (NO, parts of SE)

Airspace CLOSED 10.30 CET: BE CZ DK EE FI DE HU IR NL, north IT, parts of FR, PO RO SL CH, parts of UA and UK

[Jamesy]

some pretty astonishing images being taken from the eruption:




Iceland is very pissed

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glance/10...celand-volcano

[xxMATTGxx]

Several Nato F-16 fighter jets suffered engine damage after flying through volcanic ash, says senior Western diplomat.
British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.

-----------------------------------------------------------
British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.

BA said other airlines had also done so, adding that there was a precedent for this after the closure of US airspace after the 9/11 attacks.

The airline estimates that the crisis is costing it about £15m to £20m a day.

Virtually all flights in and out of the UK have been grounded since 1100 BST on Thursday because of volcanic ash.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We welcome the EU's initiative to address the economic consequences of the airspace closure on the air travel industry and the wider European economy.

"We are also in touch with the UK government which has set up a group to work on this issue as it recognises the impact on airlines and the contribution that aviation makes to the British economy."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8629674.stm

[Rapidshare]

is that bloody lump of land still blowing ash out to the sky?

[xxMATTGxx]

is that bloody lump of land still blowing ash out to the sky?

Experts are saying it is quieting down.

Image:



Edit: Update: Iceland volcano now producing lava, appears to be spewing more steam and less ash, meteorological official says - Reuters

[Tintinnabulate]

some pretty astonishing images being taken from the eruption:




Iceland is very pissed

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glance/10...celand-volcano

The smoke on top of the first image looks like MiB from Lost tbh.

Several Nato F-16 fighter jets suffered engine damage after flying through volcanic ash, says senior Western diplomat.
British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.

-----------------------------------------------------------
British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.

BA said other airlines had also done so, adding that there was a precedent for this after the closure of US airspace after the 9/11 attacks.

The airline estimates that the crisis is costing it about £15m to £20m a day.

Virtually all flights in and out of the UK have been grounded since 1100 BST on Thursday because of volcanic ash.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We welcome the EU's initiative to address the economic consequences of the airspace closure on the air travel industry and the wider European economy.

"We are also in touch with the UK government which has set up a group to work on this issue as it recognises the impact on airlines and the contribution that aviation makes to the British economy."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8629674.stm

So theres the proof that the ash can cause engine damage...

[xxMATTGxx]

Latest Updates: German air authorities give Lufthansa permission to fly 50 planes back to Germany with passengers.

------------------

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Monday April 19, 1530

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.

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.

This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 0700 local; however, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow (Tuesday).

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that. We will advise further arrangements at approximately 2100 (local time), today.

It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity. Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans.


-----------------------------------------------------

Two military flights have left Cyprus carrying British troops to Spain, where they will transfer to HMS Albion.

[Sam]

At least things are starting to look up. If things carry on the way they are then that means flights to the UK should start to operate tomorrow. They havent been too far off with their predictions so far so i'm choosing to be fairly optimistic about the situation.

[xxMATTGxx]

At least things are starting to look up. If things carry on the way they are then that means flights to the UK should start to operate tomorrow. They havent been too far off with their predictions so far so i'm choosing to be fairly optimistic about the situation.

Yeah, it's good news for once regarding it. Nice to see the government sending the Royal Navy to pick up passengers also! But do expect tons of people still in other countries over the days or even weeks when it's fully open. There is a ton of backlog to get through.

[Catzsy]

sup ma gf is stuck in america so i demand that they fly all people stuck in america to spain so they can get the ferry home

Well I think that is probably going to start happening - the government are taking action.