Fallout from the volcanic ash in Europe continues to wreak havoc over the continent, forcing airports to remain closed, airlines to cancel more flights, and passengers from around the world to remain stranded.
Planes can safely fly around the humongous ash cloud, but are unable to fly through it. Since the cloud covers a huge chunk of Europe, most flights in or out have been halted until further notice. Although some of northern and central Europe’s airspace gradually reopened today, officials said London airports will likely remain closed. And a new wave of ash prompted Norway to close airports on the southwestern coast. President Obama was forced to cancel his plans to attend the funeral of the Polish President and officials estimate 40,000 Americans are stuck indefinitely in Europe, waiting for the ash to clear.
HERE IS THE LATEST UPDATE FOR MOST OF EUROPE:
Austria: Austrian airspace remains open after permission to resume takeoffs and landings took effect at 0300 GMT Monday (11 p.m. EDT Sunday). Some flights continue to be canceled but the situation is improving.
Britain: Britain’s National Air Traffic Service said London airports are likely to remain closed Tuesday. Flights have resumed in Scotland but only for some domestic flights.
Denmark: Danish airspace above 16,600 feet is open, so long-haul flights can cross Denmark at high altitude. There is no landing in Denmark. Airspace under 16,600 feet remains closed until 0000 GMT Wednesday (8 p.m. EDT Tuesday).
Estonia: Tallinn Airport was open until 0700GMT (3 a.m. EDT) and is now closed again and will remain so until 1200GMT (8 a.m. EDT).
France: Limited flights from the Paris airports to several international destinations resumed Tuesday, most French airports now open to limited traffic.
Ireland: Airports remain closed. Aer Lingus said it had canceled all flights Tuesday, reversing plans announced Monday to resume some operations.
Italy: Officials say a handful of flights have resumed to and from Milan airports as domestic air traffic resumes. Italy started reopening its airports at 0600 GMT (2 a.m. EDT).
Latvia: Latvian airspace opened at 0600GMT (2 a.m. EDT) Tuesday morning, and two flights have already landed at Riga International Airport.
Lithuania: Airspace is open, and first departures have taken place from Vilnius International Airport. All flights at Kaunas Airport are canceled, as are a majority of those at Vilnius.
Netherlands: Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport listed both canceled and departed flights Tuesday morning after the Dutch government approved flights under certain conditions. KLM listed about 40 flights that were due to arrive or depart. Company says it is “resuming normal operations in a phased manner.”
Norway: New wave of ash forced aviation officials to close airports on Norway’s southwestern coast, from Stavanger to Kristiansand. Authorities had lifted air travel restrictions in most parts of Norway. Oslo’s Gardermoen international airport reopened late Sunday night, and Ryanair’s Oslo terminals, Torp and Rygge, opened Monday morning.
Spain: Reopened all its airports Sunday.
Sweden: Airspace over northern and central Sweden is open. Stockholm’s Arlanda airport is open to flights to and from the U.S. and some European destinations. Airports in Goteborg and Malmo are closed. Overflights at high altitude are permitted across the country.
