New volcanic ash cloud already a problem for Gatwick

Some flights at Gatwick have already been cancelled, as a new eruption begins in Iceland.

May 2011

previous article - news index - next article

A new volcanic eruption in Iceland has already caused problems with flights out of Gatwick airport. It’s a different volcano this time but it’s the same potential for chaos.

Though the latest plume of volcanic has yet to arrive in UK airspace, the new eruption has forced Keflavik Airport in Iceland to shut.

As a result of the closure of airports in Iceland, flights to that country from Gatwick have been cancelled. One flight out of Gatwick was scheduled to reach Keflavik airport by around 4pm today but it had to be cancelled after the closure of the Icelandic airport.

So far, other flights through Gatwick remain unaffected by the volcanic eruption. Officials in Iceland say they don’t expect to see the same level of travel disruption as was created by the eruption of Eyjafjallajokul last year.

The eruption this year is coming from the Grimsvotn volcano, which is underneath the Vatnajokull glacier. The volcano, located in southeast Iceland, last erupted in 2004.

Scientists say seismic activity that started in the area of the volcano at 6pm local time was a clear sign that an eruption was imminent. Though Grimsvotn erupts regularly, it has been quiet since 2004.

A massive plume of volcanic ash that was thrown into the atmosphere shut European airspace down almost completely last year. The disruption lasted six days and cost airlines, airports, travel operators, insurance firms and passengers huge amounts of money.

previous article - news index - next article