Large Swaths Of Airspace Expected To Be Closed Into The Weekend

A volcanic eruption in Iceland is causing widespread disruption of air travel over much of Europe, as a plume of volcanic ash drifts across much of the northern and western portions of the continent.

Officials in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia closed airports Thursday due to the ash plume. Much of the rest of Europe, including Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland (most airports closed), Austria (closures began Friday afternoon), and the Czech Republic (full closure expected later Friday) experienced at least partial closures. In some places, such as Ireland, officials were reopening airports Friday.

In Poland, officials were concerned that the volcanic ash would hinder some heads of state from attending the funeral of President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed along with nearly 100 others when his plane crashed last Saturday.

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The BBC reports that the 5,500 foot high volcano continues to erupt, but it is discharging less ash into the atmosphere.

On a normal day, about 28,000 flights would occur in European airspace, but Eurocontrol officials said only about 11,000 were completed Thursday. Of some 100 trans-Atlantic flight scheduled, only 120 completed the trip. In a written statement, the inter-European air traffic control agency said "Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash is continuing to move east and south-east and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours."

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The eruptions began Wednesday, sending a plume of ash nearly 7 miles into the atmosphere. It was the second eruption of the volcano since March 20th. Vulcanologist say the next most recent eruption was back in 1821, and event that went on for nearly two years.

FMI: www.eurocontrol.int