Volcano No Longer Spewing as European Flights Resume

Care of the LA times - full article here

Air traffic over Europe was on track to return to about 75% of normal capacity Wednesday, aviation officials said, but they warned that clearing the backlog of flights could take days.

The continent's biggest airports were expected to be open and running flights by the end of the day. That included London's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs, which the British aviation authority allowed to reopen late Tuesday.

Problems posed by the volcanic ash spewed by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland had not entirely disappeared, however. A corner of Scottish airspace remained sealed off, with potential that the closure could spread further south.

The restoration of air service came as welcome news to thousands of passengers who have been stranded far from home since last Thursday. Airlines were also relieved at the lifting of the restrictions over Europe, which a trade group said cost the industry as much as $1.7 billion.

The regional aviation agency Eurocontrol said it expected 21,000 flights through European airspace would take place Wednesday, 75% of the usual tally of 28,000.

But a full return to normal will take days as airlines scramble to get grounded planes into position across the continent and to accommodate passengers whose flights were canceled. Eurocontrol said 100,000 flights have been canceled since Thursday.

The gradual easing of the lockdown of European airspace came amid heavy pressure by airlines to get their idled fleets back in the air. Aviation authorities said safety remains of paramount concern, but growing gaps in the ash cloud allowed for a rollback of some of the flight restrictions.

Eyjafjallajokull continues to erupt, belching dust and glass particles that could cause jet engines to seize up. More grit has been creeping south and east, and air traffic regulators say restrictions on airspace could be revived.

Meteorologists say, however, that the most recent plumes of ash are not reaching such high altitudes as before and that winds strong enough to disperse the ash could pick up in a few days.

Europe Flights to Start Taking Off Soon

European officials carved up the sky Monday, creating three zones to more quickly break the flight deadlock caused by volcanic ash flowing from Iceland over Europe. Many more flights will be able to take off on Tuesday, the bloc said.

European countries can resume airline traffic in designated "caution zones" where the threat of ash is considered less dangerous, French officials said after a meeting of the bloc's 27 transport ministers.

Under the accord, one area — defined by the European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol — will remain entirely off limits to flights. Another area will be open to all flights and a third area will be a caution zone in which some flights will be allowed.

The EU said as of Tuesday morning "we should see more planes starting to fly."

Earlier, Germany's aviation authority granted Lufthansa an exemption to fly 50 long-haul planes carrying 15,000 passengers back home at a very low altitude and the British government sent Royal Navy warships to rescue those marooned across the Channel by flight cancelations.

Britain chimed in with more good news, saying flight restrictions over Scottish airspace will be lifted Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT, 2 a.m. EDT) and other British airports could reopen later that day as well.

As airline losses spiraled over $1 billion, the aviation industry blasted European officials, claiming there was "no coordination and no leadership" in the crisis that shut down most European airports for a fifth day.

Eurocontrol, the air traffic agency in Brussels, said less than one-third of flights in Europe were taking off Monday — between 8,000 and 9,000 of the continent's 28,000 scheduled flights. Airports in southern Europe were open, however, and Spain offered to become an emergency hub for the whole continent.

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New Sandals Resort = New Flights to the Bahamas

Following the grand opening of Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, three airline carries have added flights to Exuma International Airport (GGT) in Great Exuma, Bahamas from major gateways in the US and Canada.

In addition to existing daily flights on American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Bahamas Air, new flights to Great Exuma include:

Air Canada: Launched March 7, 2010 with weekly non-stop service from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
AC 1764; YYZ to GGT, Sundays 7:20am – 10:45am
AC 1765; GGT to YYZ, Sundays, 11:45am – 3:15pm

American Airlines: Starting June 11, 2010 with one additional flight, twice a week from Miami International Airport (MIA)
AA 4901; MIA to GGT, Fridays & Saturdays, 7:00pm – 8:29pm
AA 4902; GGT to MIA, Saturdays & Sundays, 7:30am – 8:58am

Delta Airlines: Beginning June 13, 2010 with flights twice a week from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
DL 5607; ATL to GGT, Wednesdays & Sundays, 10:55am – 1:17pm
DL 5606; GGT to ATL, Wednesdays & Sundays, 2:00pm – 4:34pm

Sandals Emerald Bay, a 500-acre beachfront resort set on Great Exuma, one of the Bahamas’ most beautiful Out Islands, is the fourteenth Sandals Resort and, expanding on the company’s Luxury Included concept, the first to offer a championship, Greg Norman-designed golf course, world-class marina and professionally-trained butlers in all 183 plush rooms and suites. The new Sandals Emerald Bay also features gourmet dining in a choice of five à la carte restaurants, premium brand wine and spirits, land and watersports, including scuba diving for certified divers, gratuities and airport transfers. Additionally, the resort boasts an exclusive Red Lane Spa, featuring 17 treatment rooms, offering premier services that embrace the best of the Caribbean region.

Volcanic Ash Stops More Europe Flights

Updated information from National Geographic regarding the continuing cancellation of flights to and from Europe, due to an Icelandic Volcano erupting.

First we have H1N1, then we have earthquakes and mudslides that have rocked the world, and now we have our second batch of cancelled flights due to volcanic eruptions, the first happening in the Pacific ocean, cancelling flights to Japan. What will happen next?


James Owen in London
for National Geographic News
Published April 15, 2010

Airline flights to, from, and within northern Europe have been cancelled today because of fears that a vast cloud of volcanic ash spreading from an Iceland volcano could bring down passenger planes (map of northern Europe).

British airports are completely closed to civilian aircraft following latest eruptions from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. (Pictures: Iceland Volcano Erupts, Under Ice This Time.)

Thousands of flights have likewise been cancelled to and from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark as affected countries close airspace in response to the volcanic cloud, which is currently drifting at altitudes of 25,000 to 30,000 feet (7,620 to 9,140 meters).

(See aerial pictures of the Iceland volcano's earlier eruption.)

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Blast from the Past at Disney

The musical that thrilled Disneyland guests from 1986 – 1997 is returning to the California amusement park. Twenty-three years ago, Michael Jackson joined forces with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola to create a groundbreaking 17-minute 3-D film experience starring Jackson as Captain EO performing original songs. A new generation of visitors to Tomorrowland will have the opportunity to experience the original 3-D production, as well as a nostalgic look back for long-term fans wanting to see the “King of Pop” in a rare performance created for the big screen.

Flights to London Cancelled

THE National Air Traffic Service (NATS) has imposed restrictions to UK airspace for Thursday morning due to volcanic ash drifting across the UK from Iceland. Volcanic ash represents a significant safety threat to aircraft.Air Canada and Jazz advise that flights to, from or connecting through London’s Heathrow (LHR) may be delayed or cancelled due to the volcanic activity in Iceland. This advisory is in effect for all day April 15.

Air Canada says 12 flights between London and Canadian destinations have been cancelled. Peter Fitzpatrick says the airline is waiving fees for those affected by the cancellations.
So far, only flights to London are affected, but Fitzpatrick said wind changes could affect flights to places like Frankfurt and Paris.

"It's unpredictable because of the nature of the situation," Fitzpatrick said, noting advisories would be posted on the Air Canada website.

Air Transat also issued a travel warning on Thursday for its passengers. The airline had one flight to Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday morning that arrived on time, but the aircraft is now stuck at the airport until the ash passes. Another flight to London's Gatwick airport was also cancelled on Thursday, but the airline's others flights to France and elsewhere remain unaffected at this time, a spokesman for the airline said.

All British Airways UK domestic flights are cancelled today (15 April). Some flights from the USA (BA292/BA296/BA68) have been night-stopped and others already airborne may be diverted (BA228/BA192/BA264/BA188). Further disruption is likely as a second eruption has occurred in closer to Finland and Russia.

The following flights have been cancelled ex Canadian gateways:*BA0092 YYZ LHR 18h55 15 Apr*BA0093 LHR YYZ 12h00 15 Apr

Lufthansa confirms that several of its flights have either been cancelled or delayed into northern Europe.Airports throughout the United Kingdom and Scandinavia have closed. Passengers are strongly advised to contact their airline for further information.Weather forecasters said the ash plume could drift over British airspace during the night, causing significant disruption to services.

The movement of the plume, which has been drifting eastwards, is being monitored by Met Office, NATS, Eurocontrol and neighbouring countries.Volcanic ash, which consists of the pulverised rock and glass created by the eruptions, can jam aircraft machinery if a plane flies through the plume, shutting down the engines. Ash can also be can be sucked into the cabin itself, contaminating the passengers' environment as well as damaging the plane's electronic systems.

Forecasters also said the cloud could take a number of days to disperse. Reports indicate that the threat could run into Friday.

Olympic Spirit lives on at Whistler Fairmont

The Olympic spirit lives on with the Fairmont Chateau Whistlers new Gold, Silver and Bronze package for winter and summer. The new lineup of packages will put guests on top of the mountain or top of the tee from the comfort of the Chateau Whistler.

A full day of heli-skiing tops off the three-night Gold package, which also features a complimentary room upgrade, gold-themed chocolate treat on arrival, “Gold Medal” spa treatment, breakfast daily and exclusive dinner in The Wine Room. Rates start at $3,978 based on double.