Volcano disrupts UAE flights to Europe

Dubai: Spokespersons of UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad confirmed on Thursday that several flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Europe have been affected following a volcano eruption in Iceland.

In pictures:  Volcano erupts in Iceland

Emirates has cancelled several flights to destinations in the UK until further notice.

Etihad also said that flights to Europe and London in particular have been affected and added that detailed information will be issued in the course of the day.

According to Dubai Airport’s departure schedule, more airlines on the UK route are affected by the volcano eruption.

Passengers booked on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Royal Brunei are advised to track their departure times and get in contact with the airlines’ customer service to clarify if their flight will be delayed or depart at all.

Passengers flying from Abu Dhabi airport are advised to check departure times with their respective airlines.

Volcanic ash spreading from Iceland caused the shutdown of Scottish airports and triggered warnings about flight disruptions on other European routes.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are closed following advice from UK air traffic control, airport operator BAA Ltd. said in an e-mailed statement.

Other parts of the UK may be affected by the ash cloud later, it said. Manchester Airport in northern England said it would suspend flights until 1pm because of the cloud, spokesman Paul Hadfield said.

London's Heathrow Airport is open. A spokesman for Gatwick Airport, south of the capital, said 89 domestic flights had been cancelled so far today.

Taylor Samuelson, a spokeswoman for Britain's National Air Traffic Services, known as Nats, said the number of flights allowed to enter UK airspace had been limited because of the cloud of ash.

"Volcanic ash represents a significant safety threat to aircraft," she said in a statement.

Ryanair Holdings Plc and EasyJet Plc, Europe's two biggest discount airlines, both warned of likely disruption because of the ash, while All Nippon Airways Co., Asia's largest listed carrier by sales, delayed services to London, Paris and Frankfurt. Continental Airlines Inc. may reroute some flights to the US from Europe, according to a statement on its Web site.

British Airways Plc is "aware of the issue" and it is speaking to Nats to see what impact it may have on flights, said a spokesman for Europe's third-largest carrier. The volcanic eruption in Iceland is the second in four weeks and prompted the evacuation of the nearby area by more than 800 people as water levels in surrounding rivers rose by almost three feet. Flights over Norway have been cancelled due to safety concerns, Sky News reported Wednesday.

Passengers should check with airlines or airports on travel plans, said BAA, the owner of Aberdeen, Glasgow and London Heathrow airport.

Emirates flights to following destinations have been cancelled Thursday:

• London Heathrow (EK29/030, EK03/04 and EK05/06)
• London Gatwick (EK09/10)
• Manchester (EK17/18 and EK19/20)
• Newcastle (EK35/36)
• Birmingham (EK39/40 and EK37/38)
• Glasgow (EK27/28)

Click here to see the complete list of cancelled flights

“Emirates continues to liaise with the UK and European ATC authorities to monitor the movement of the ash cloud,”  the airline said in a statement.

Emirates passengers in transit at Dubai today are being provided with hotel accommodation. Passengers that are yet to depart for UK-bound destinations from other Emirates gateways across the network are being contacted through the airline’s call centres and local offices.

The airline has set aside a dedicated check-in area at Emirates Terminal 3 Dubai to look after the requirements of passengers affected by the cancellation of its UK flights today.

At this time no other routes are affected, the airline said and advised its passengers to check  their flight status before departure.

Cancelled Etihad flights to and from the UK on Thursday include:

• EY21, Abu Dhabi to Manchester
• EY22, Manchester to Abu Dhabi
• EY17, Abu Dhabi to Heathrow
• EY18, Heathrow to Abu Dhabi
• EY20, Heathrow to Abu Dhabi
   

Click here to see the complete list of cancelled flights

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