Removalgroup Reviews Complaints - UK Airport Travel Update 2

Removalgroup Reviews Complaints - UK Airport Travel Update 2, a photo by Removal Group on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
About 500 flights were halted – and others delayed – across Europe on Tuesday as the eruption of Grímsvötn volcano in Iceland caused havoc at airports in Scotland and northern England.

Last night the Met Office had forecast a plume of high density ash over the UK on Friday, at a height of 35,000ft and above. This prompted the CAA to look at changing the ash regulations just in case a cloud hits the UK at 35,000ft on Friday. Current rules prevent "underflying" the cloud even though 35,000ft is roughly the maximum cruising height for airlines. This would prevent aircraft at Heathrow and other major airports taking off and landing even though they would not reach the cloud's altitude while in the area.

The government is also seeking to borrow an atmosphere monitoring plane from Ireland or Germany because the one it has ordered – specifically for ash purposes – will not be ready until July. On Tuesday the International Air Transport Association wrote to Hammond bemoaning the lack of monitoring aircraft. In the meantime the UK government is co-operating with commercial carriers such as BA to monitor the cloud.

The ash cloud ruined the plans of thousands of travellers travelling to and from northern Germany, when airports in Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin were shut as a safety precaution, hitting flights operated by BA, BMI, easyJet and Ryanair.