New ash cloud floating towards Europe
Just when you thought it might be getting safe to fly, a new ash cloud is developing over Iceland and drifting towards Europe.
Scotland is opening its airspace for the first time in six days this morning. Some airports in Europe are doing the same, but the situation is changing and airspace could be closed again within hours aviation experts have said.
The schedule at Malta International Airport shows all flights from Europe this morning cancelled except for services from Rome, Catania and Spanish airports. 434 flights to and from Malta have been cancelled since Thursday. Hundreds of Maltese remain stranded abroad, many of them in London and Brussels. In Malta, departing tourists have ended up back in their hotels.
Two British women who had been on holiday in Malta told their story to Sky News this morning.
They had been due to return to the UK last Thursday but their flight was cancelled. Luckly, their friends in Malta took them in and they were pinned to Sky News, watching developments. They were booked on a flight to Manchester, but when they got to the airport, they were told that was cancelled. They were then booked on flights to Amsterdam and Marseille which were also cancelled.
Eventually, they said, then followed the Pope out of Malta on Sunday on a flight to Rome, from where they took long train and bus journeys to the UK, where they arrived this morning, tired, but smiling and grateful for the help they were given in Malta.
London airports, which had been due to open in the afternoon, are expected to remain closed all day.
"The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new as cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK," NATS, Britain's National Air Traffic Services, said in an overnight statement.
"This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working."
EU Transport Commission Siim Kallas said yesterday that the EU would split European airspace into areas where aircraft could fly or not, easing days of disruption for millions of passengers. A few flights left Amsterdam and Frankfurt late last night.
"I'm so happy," said one man with tears in his eyes as he ran for his flight from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of three bound for New York, Shanghai and Dubai with almost 800 passengers on board.
Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings promised that the Netherlands was "taking a lead" in getting Europe moving, but said its airspace could be closed again if ash levels rose. T.
Kallas said the area immediately around the volcano will remain closed but flights may be permitted in a wider zone with a lower concentration of ash, subject to local assessments and scientific advice..
Airlines had declared numerous test flights problem-free over the past days, but experts disagree over how to measure the ash and who should decide it is safe to fly. A British Airways jet lost power in all four engines after flying through an ash cloud above the Indian Ocean in 1982.
France said it was reopening some airports to create air corridors to Paris. North Italian airspace was due to open at 8 a.m.
Industry losses worldwide for passenger airlines and cargo companies could reach as much as $3 billion from the cloud, Helane Becker, an analyst with Jesup & Lamont Securities, told Reuters Insider on Monday. For U.S. airlines, she estimated the impact at $400 million to $600 million.
Firms dependent on fast air freight were feeling the strain.
Kenya's flower exporters, which account for a third of EU imports, said they were losing up to $2 million a day.
Disruption extended far into Asia.
South Korea's Incheon International Airport, the world's fourth-busiest cargo handler in 2008, suffered 3,216 tonnes of lost shipments to Europe from April 16-19, the country's customs agency says.
Twenty inbound and 25 outbound cargo flights had been cancelled. Among those suffering were computer chip and electronics suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor.
Japan Airlines said it had cancelled 55 European flights, affecting 14,277 passengers. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has cancelled 33 flights, affecting about 8,500.
SHOWERS, HAMBURGERS, BUS TOURS
Tokyo's Narita airport offered stranded passengers free showers, hamburgers, access to rest areas and bus tours of the city. About 140 passengers spent last night at the airport.
The China Daily said the bar on flights to Europe remained in effect and quoted a civil aviation spokeswoman as saying that "the situation might last for a few more days".
It also reported European executives might be unable to attend a series of conventions and exhibitions, including the Beijing auto show that opens with a media day on Friday.
"I don't know how many of the European auto giants will finally show up on the media day," the paper quoted Zhang Hengjie, a manager at the exhibition centre, as saying.
In Singapore, a hub for travel throughout Asia, France's ambassador urged French residents of the island state to take in compatriots stranded at the airport.
Millions of people have had travel disrupted or been stranded and forced to make long, expensive attempts to reach home by road, rail and sea, as well as missing days at work and school at the end of the busy Easter holiday season.
British businessman Chris Thomas, trying to get home from Los Angeles since Thursday, flew to Mexico City and then aimed to fly to Madrid and spend $2,000 to rent a car for the 14-hour drive to Paris. He was booked on the Eurostar Channel tunnel train to London, and then planned to drive four hours to Wales.
"It's all a bit crazy but you have to err on the side of caution," Thomas said. "Nobody wants to be on the first plane to go down in a volcanic cloud."
In sport, soccer's European Cup holders Barcelona set off on a two-day road trip of nearly 1,000 km (620 miles) on Sunday to play Inter in a Champions League semi-final today.
Businesses have had to find alternative ways of operating. Communications provider Cisco Systems said companies were turning to videoconferencing to connect executives.
Britain was deploying three navy ships, including an aircraft carrier, to bring its citizens home from continental Europe. The British travel agents' association ABTA estimated 150,000 Britons were stranded abroad. Washington said it was trying to help 40,000 Americans stuck in Britain.
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M.Bezzina
Apr 22nd 2010, 22:01
Dear Kenneth William,
Ma tahsibx li hijja bla sens li toqod tikkrita li gvern?Jien gonzi ma jigix minni u meta kien hemm bzonn li nikkirtika ghamilta kemm il darba fil-fatt nghidlek li 80% tal kummeti tieghi huma kritika pero ma tkunx sew li kull darba jizzeffen il gvern u f'din ma naqbilx ghax inti ma min ghandek x taqsam?nimmagina li l airline trid twasslek jew airMalta, Ryanair etc etc!!Issa jekk l EU iddicidiet li talaq in North kollhu mhux il gvern irrid joffrilek accomodation imma l airline u fdal kas mijiex se toffrilek ghax li gara mux min naha taghha.
ita nudelman
Apr 22nd 2010, 17:51
Like its not enough that the first time the iceland volcano blew up, caused a lot of damage and closed all the airports in europe and now it blew up volcanic ash again! Nowbody can fly. Who has a ticket who's been waiting all week to get on the airplane. Who shall go on? the waiting people or the people with a ticket and luck that can go. Iceland is covered in ash that is bad for a humans health. Scotland has ash and a lot of damage too. Lets hope it doesnt get to malta as Italy already has the black clouds and ash.
S.Debono
Apr 22nd 2010, 13:16
Nobody can control such things from happening and i really don't think airlines should be the ones paying all expences but I really do think there should be a law for some greedy hotels and taxi drivers putting the prices up like never seen before instead of selling at the normal prices and helping people that were stranded. One particular taxi driver charged 1 person €48. from the airport to St. Julians oh and not forgetting to mention Flight enquiries charging €1.50 per call when calling for information!! I hope all these greedy people don't ever have to be stranded and stuck in a situation of the sort!!
Pule' Carmel.
Apr 20th 2010, 22:43
Thanks to the joint efforts, of Enemalta and the Local council , at progress street Kalkara we now have a dust cloud which enters our home making my breathing difficult on ocassions. This adds to the smoke which results through neighbours occassionally burning their domestic
Alexander Grima
Apr 20th 2010, 16:15
@ M.Vella ... If I were in such an uncomfortable situation, I'd get more uncomfortable by renting a car, make my way down to Sicily and eventually back home by ferry. This event has so far had no catastrophic repercussions of people being displaced and left homeless, and while I sympathize with the people stranded abroad, one has to understand that our Governments are almost as helpless as we are. As for the rest of us, we just need to be patient and wait it all out.
William Grech
Apr 20th 2010, 16:08
cont...
I was stranded in Budapest and had to travel for 36 hours from Budapest to Venice to Rome (via train) before arriving home safely.
A simple phone call as explained earlier would at least ease some tension the person would be going through while trying to decide on the best contingency plan.
William Grech
Apr 20th 2010, 16:06
I have to agree with those who expect the Govt to help people stranded abroad. I assume that this is one of the basic responsibilities of embassies, consulates or diplomatic missions. If not, then why would have MFA published that booklet with information for people travelling abroad? For shear amusement, may I ask?!
I was one of the Maltese stranded abroad and although I was in contact with the Tourism Authority (through the personal interest of a managerial employee there) who had passed all my information (and that of others in a similar situation) to the MFA, I never got contacted by MFA. All I was expecting was a phone call asking whether I needed anything and explaining what services, advice or help they could provide. Or else where to get it from. I got home on my own steam, with a lot of help from my friends / colleagues I was staying with, and with some limited help from AirMalta whose only help was booking me on an alternative flight (not without some hiccups, I must add). (cont...)
marthese mussett
Apr 20th 2010, 16:02
In Swieqi we have a big WHITE cloud:of dust,because it s one BIG building site.And the street where I live is BROWN ,pavements even covered in dog dirt,because the owners dont clean up after their dogs.Wish I was stranded in another European country...to get away from it.
M. Vella
Apr 20th 2010, 14:15
@ E. Vella
FYI I am a PN supporter, u hadd qatt ma tahuli shun just to use your vocabulary.
To the rest, I am not expecting the Gozo channel to come over, such suggestions are ridiculous.
What I expect is some degree of interest from the government, the only people showing interest are Air Malta, who have been totally supportive under the circumstances.
But then again it is easy for all those who are comfortable at home to comment so freely when they are not in such as situation.
I would like to see how you would react if you were in such as situation.
Dr Melvyn Mifsud LLD
Apr 20th 2010, 14:09
Any help that can be extended to Maltese stranded should be afforded to them - even on a national level, at Government's expense.
The sufferings may also be prolonged - and perhaps we should start think more on the lines of improving upon our action groups which will be ready to deal with calamities that seem to be afflicting our world.
An advisory board to deal with sudden disaters - of an environmental/ecological nature or even man made, tipo regular or longer power cuts.
From the lighter point of view, the Black dust seems to be reminiscent of the Dark Ages ... also perhaps, permit me to say in not the too distant post-independence period in Malta.
Anyone's memory echoes a Black Monday Melvyn Mifsud Sliema
E. Vella
Apr 20th 2010, 13:17
@M.Vella...mela qed igibulek shun Joseph Muscat biex int daqshekk devot lejn il PL u kontra il gvern...ghax biex tasal tghidt li din tal vulkan hi tord tal gvern vera trid tkun bhal qtates li ikunu kemm twieldu......ghajnejk maluqa....din ic-cajta tax-xahar! prosit M.Vella
Edwin Mifsud
Apr 20th 2010, 12:36
I knew it would be a matter of time before Gahan Malti blames the goverment for this act of God.
i.cilia
Apr 20th 2010, 12:16
@m.vella
what do you want our government to do?? send our warships or aircraft carriers? send our submarines?
send our Public transport association overland to pick up people? (they can hardly to that on this little rock)
so what do expect them to do...
because apart from criticising it would help if you have some decent proposals...
please get real !!!!
JAFarrugia
Apr 20th 2010, 11:57
Come on coach companies, i would have thought you would have put your heads together and got a few heading out to Calais /Brussels and Luxembourg, i'm sure people would be willing to pay and you be full going and coming.
John Azzopardi
Apr 20th 2010, 11:49
M. Vella, what is the government suppose to do. People all over the world are stuck. some have been camped out at airports. Is this the government faults. Well, it an act of nature, not much can be done. In life, we have to put with the good and the bad and stop complaining once in a while and thank God that we are alive. These little things will come to pass soon and people will have tons of stories to tell their families, children, etc. So make the best of it as long as we all stay healthy.
l aquilina
Apr 20th 2010, 11:35
@M Vella, can you be more specific please? What can the Malta government do in the circumstances? Perhaps send out M/F Ta Pinu, Gaudos and Malita to pick up stranded citizens?
Sarah Wait
Apr 20th 2010, 11:22
........actually I'm stranded in UK and have just spoken to the embassy in London who were most helpful along with Air Malta who I have spoken to a couple of times. The trouble is nobody knows what's happening or how to deal with such an extraordinary situation!
EDWIN DE MARCO
Apr 20th 2010, 10:39
So finally we know where the TRAB ISWED is originating from! I hope all those who accused the local government saying that the 'black dust' was emanating from the power station now apologise for their puerile accustions. The cloud will also move towards Malta, nobody can help that. But instead of keeping your fingers crossed you should count your blessing s on them & remember that since we are a special nation, Catholic to the core, nothing can touch us! While millions of passengers were stranded in Europe, one man alone, the Pope, managed to make it to Malta to convey a message of solidarity & hope among catholics. Although all weather forecasts were predicting that it was going to rain, lo & behold, it only drizzled for a few minutes. So don't worry about the black cloud. Lots of places where to shelter in Malta. The best one there is can't possibly hold all the locals, though. By the way, the shelter I'm referring to is under the umbrella at Hagar Qim & Mnajdra, the 0nce-famous World Heritage Site! Seriously, lots of travel options nowadays, not just flying. Good thing our bus service has been reformed!!*?! B'tal-linja jaqbillek Joe!!.....
M. Vella
Apr 20th 2010, 10:17
and our beloved Government is doing nothing for those stranded abroad
J.Grech
Apr 20th 2010, 11:59
Hahaha, xi tridu jaghmel il-gvern????? jibghat taxi lil kulhadd?? Jorganizza cruise madwar in-north sea u jigbor lin-nies ma kull stop?? You made my day this morning :D
Andrew Agius
Apr 20th 2010, 12:04
Ridiculous! Shame on the government. First they deliberately cause a volcano to erupt in Iceland then they refuse to help people out.
E Gatt
Apr 20th 2010, 14:29
Of course, the volcano eruption is all GonziPN’s fault, and we can prove it. Doctor Joseph Muscat promised an earthquake, so Lawrence Gonzi upstaged him and caused the eruption in Iceland.
For your sake I hope you were joking - at least you made a few people laugh. But the way the government gets the blame for everything that goes wrong on the planet, I would not be surprised if some people will actually blame the government for the volcano chaos.
M.Bezzina
Apr 20th 2010, 15:52
Ma tridux jibatlek il karozza tieghu ux??Tkellmu bis sens jahasra!!Jekk l EU ghalqet l airspace habba safety irringrazzja lil AirMalta jekk ed toffri extra flights min postijiet ohra ghax airlines ohra ma offrew xejn!!U by the way ma tistax tikklejma xejn ghax uwa 'act of god' u mhux 'act of government!!'
Kenneth Williams
Apr 22nd 2010, 15:35
lill...A.Agius J.Grech E.Gatt M.Bezzina
Kemm tkunu pronti taqbzu meta jsemmu lill gonzi jew cioe lill gvern!!! Nahseb l anqas jekk isemmu lill tal familja ma tkunu pronti hekk! Seta forsi joffri lukanda ghal maltin maqbuda zgur ma kienx ser tiswieh daqs il karozza tieghu M.Bezzina. Charity begins at home
Norbert Bugeja
Apr 20th 2010, 09:50
there's a rumour that says that the dust is coming from the Manchester City trophy cabinet not from Iceland
j theuma
Apr 21st 2010, 12:06
hahaha...
well actually the dust cloud is coming from liverpool and arsenal's cabinets as well!
Godfrey Grima
Apr 20th 2010, 09:26
A couple of quotes I came across these past few days:
About iceland: They can neither manage their cash nor their ash!
About Airline people: Three ulcer men working in a five ulcer job!