Ash cloud forces further airspace closures across Europe

Volcanic ash from Iceland continues to hamper travel across Europe on Friday as more countries announce the closure of their airspace. Around 17,000 flights are likely to be cancelled, a day after a gigantic cloud of ash descended on northern Europe following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz

Polish authorities announced that the gigantic cloud of ash may delay the funeral of President Lech Kaczynski, while Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuanian and Latvia joined the ranks of countries taking precautions against the possibility of damage to aircraft mid-flight.

The Polish aviation authority said the country’s airspace would be closed from 06:00 GMT until further notice, except for airports in Krakow and Rzeszow, in the south of the country.

The measure creates uncertainty for the attendance of US President Barack Obama and other heads of state for Sunday’s funeral of the late Polish leader.

In the Balkans, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia took similar measures on Friday, with Lithuania’s civil aviation authority blocking air travel from 00:00 GMT onwards.

Latvian carrier airBaltic immediately cancelled 40 flights with Transport Minister Kaspars Gerhards saying the decision would be reviewed at 15:00 GMT.

In Austria, Austro Control, the national aviation authority said Vienna, Salzburg and Linz would be closed late afternoon and early evening. Although there was no indication how long the closure would remain in place.

The Czech Republic also took precautionary measures shutting the northwestern part of its airspace at 08:00 GMT.

Thousands of passengers remain stranded in France with Paris Charles de Gaulle airport closed until at least 18:00 GMT. And in England airspace will remain closed until Saturday, despite some flights resuming in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Reports from Norway indicate the temporary reopening of some airspace in the centre and north of the country.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities are uncertain whether the Icelandic volcanic eruption will have any effect on air travel, as they determine the severity of the approaching cloud.

Eyjafjallajokull, which stands at more than 1,600 metres above sea level, began erupting on 20 March, its first eruption in 190 years.