In European airports millions of passengers are waiting for departure

Airlines cancel flights across Europe

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In connection with the largest eruption of Ejafjadlajokudl volcano in Iceland, which began on Thursday 15 April, paralyzed practically all the major airports in Europe. For security reasons tens of thousands of civilian flights are cancelled.

According to air traffic control service, the north-western winds spread volcanic ash of Icelandic volcano Ejafjadlajokudl virtually across the entire territory of Europe. At the moment in European airspace are committed only 5 000 flights, compared with 28 000 flights in a normal day. Nevertheless, forecasts of the British volcanologists are disappointing: the eruption may continue for the next several months, causing unprecedented havoc with tourism and air travel and changing the plans of millions of passengers around the world.

Currently are closed all airports in the UK and London. British Airways canceled all flights until tomorrow. Until Monday delayed all flights the budget airline Ryaneyr from Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, northern France and northern Germany, as well as Poland and the Baltic countries. Due to the cancellation of flights in the UK airports are waiting for departure more than 600 000 passengers.

Spanish airline Iberia has canceled most European flights until next notification. Approximately two thirds of transatlantic flights to European destinations were canceled due to the closure of airspace of France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary. In Germany are closed 10 airports including the largest European air hub in Frankfurt.

The flights were cancelled also by domestic airlines. So, as of April 18 are canceled 41 flights of the largest Russian airline Aeroflot in the following areas: London, Riga, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Prague, Paris, Stockholm, Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Warsaw, Vienna, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Munich, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Hannover, Zagreb, Belgrade, Zurich, Oslo, Karlovy Vary and Helsinki. Employees of airlines are working in hard conditions, studying the questions of visa-free transit of passengers and passengers with expired due to the cancellation of flights visas. Also airlines are actively working to supply clients with accommodation and food during the time of cancellation of flights.

In total in all airports of Russia are waiting flights to Europe about 15 000 passengers. The most number of flights have airports in Moscow - Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo, which canceled 142 flights and 72, respectively. Also canceled flights occurred to many other cities: Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Novosibirsk, Tyumen and others.

Aerosvit Ukrainian Airline also canceled several flights of the European direction, among which were flights from Kiev to Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Stockholm. Currently Aerosvit is still able to carry out flights to Moscow, New York, as well as flights within Ukraine.

Belavia Belarusian Airline also canceled several flights from Minsk to Europe. Thus, on 17 and 18 April the company will not carry out flights to Amsterdam, Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Kyiv, Riga, Milan and London. Information on flights can be found on Belavia internet page.

In connection with force majeure circumstances most European insurance companies refused to pay the insurance to affected tourists, citing to the natural disaster. Most airlines continue to offer the exchange of tickets for other flights or refund of the full cost of the ticket without any deduction of fines.

Alesia Belaya

Date: 19/04/2010