Flights delayed for hours after Iceland volcano eruption

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Flights out and in of Iceland’s primary airport have been affected by a much-anticipated volcanic eruption.

For six weeks the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic exercise near Keflavik airport, a serious North Atlantic aviation hub.

The eruption is round 10 miles southwest of the airport and northeast of the city of Grindavik – whose 4,000 inhabitants had been evacuated as a precaution.

In keeping with information from Flightradar24, the final flight to depart from Keflavik airport was an easyJet departure to Manchester. It took off at 1.35am, over 5 hours late, and arrived safely at Manchester airport at 4am.

Passengers had been instructed by easyJet: “We’re sorry that your flight has been delayed. It’s because volcanic exercise in Keflavik (KEF) is inflicting restrictions to the areas wherein plane are permitted to fly. The security of you and our crew is our highest precedence and we thanks on your persistence.”

Arrivals at Keflavik started at round 5am and have been persevering with largely usually. The flight scenario is being sophisticated by a sequence of strike by air-traffic controllers. The employees, who’re concerned in a dispute over pay, have been strolling out intermittently, with one other stoppage scheduled for Wednesday morning, 20 December.

The nationwide airline, Icelandair, is telling passengers: “The eruption does have a really minimal have an effect on the operations of Icelandair or Keflavik airport. Our flight schedule stays unchanged.

“No flights have been delayed or canceled because of the eruption. The security of our passengers and employees is at all times our primary precedence and on the coronary heart of each resolution we make. We’re monitoring the scenario carefully and can inform our passengers of any new developments.”

Another Tuesday morning departures from Keflavik are exhibiting lengthy delays. The primary wave of flights on Play, a brand new Icelandic airline, are anticipated to depart 4 to 5 hours late.

Play is telling passengers: “Attributable to a volcanic eruption within the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland on 18 December 2023, the roads to the city of Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon have been closed whereas the scenario is being evaluated.

“We don’t anticipate any disruptions to our flight schedule however security is at all times our prime precedence and the scenario is being monitored carefully by the related authorities.

“We ask all passengers booked on upcoming flights to maintain a detailed eye on messages from us relating to a doable disruption to our flight schedule.”

Flights from the UK to Iceland look like working usually.

The primary departure between the 2 international locations was easyJet’s flight 2259 from Manchester to Keflavik, which departed a couple of minutes forward of schedule.

At current there isn’t a signal of an ash cloud of the sort that grounded flights in 2010.

One in every of Iceland’s hottest vacationer points of interest, the Blue Lagoon, has closed in consequence. It’s near the eruption zone and had solely simply reopened for the build-up to Christmas after weeks of closure.

Friends are instructed: “Now we have briefly closed our amenities. All visitors with confirmed bookings within the upcoming days might be contacted.

“We’ll proceed to watch the progress and keep shut communication with the authorities, prioritising security and well-being.”

Clive Stacey, founding father of the main Iceland specialist journey agency Uncover The World, instructed The Impartial: ”There’s a potential for the lava to move to enter Grindavik someday sooner or later, though it’s anticipated a wall might be constructed to attempt to divert the move away from the city.

“The Blue Lagoon and geothermal energy plant are already protected by such a wall. As issues stand this isn’t a ‘vacationer eruption’ in its current part and sightseers have been warned to steer clear of the world.

“At Uncover The World our ideas are with the individuals of Grindavik at this very tough time. Suffice to say that the city was evacuated lengthy earlier than this newest eruption came about.

“The eruption has additionally had little influence on flights to and from Keflavik airport, save for the standard closing of airspace for round an hour after the beginning of the eruption, to evaluate hazard to air journey.”