Travellers had grim news yesterday as the cloud of ash from a volcano in Iceland continued drifting deeper into Europe, grounding airlines and stranding thousands of passengers as far south as Austria.
By the evening the cloud of ash was reported heading towards northern Italy. However, a spokesman for Malta International Airport's Meteorological Office said it was unlikely the ash would have an impact on the airspace over Rome from where Pope Benedict XVI will depart for Malta this afternoon.
"Wind movements at about 18,000 feet around northern Italy and the Gulf of Genoa may push the cloud of ash eastwards averting the airspace further south over Rome. However, these are just predictions that may shift if wind directions change in the slightest," the Met Office spokesman said.
Hundreds of tourists queued at Malta International Airport yesterday as flights to airports across Europe were cancelled for the second day running.
Air Malta said it operated only half of its schedule, cancelling 26 flights. The airline said it was offering passengers free re-booking on any Air Malta operated scheduled flights or a full refund for ticket expenses.
Ryanair said yesterday it has decided to cancel all scheduled flights to/from the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, northern France, northern Germany, Poland and the Baltic States until 1 p.m. on Monday.
Ryanair said the decision was taken in order to allow passengers to apply for a full refund or rebook onto flights operating later next week.
According to Louis Grech, MEP and a former Air Malta chairman, under EU regulations airlines are obliged to keep passengers informed of their rights, provide accommodation and refreshments where appropriate and reimburse tickets or offer free rerouting to the final destination.
"However, passengers may not have the right to claim additional compensation given the extraordinary circumstances that led to the flight disruptions," he said, pointing out that the airport closures had a significant impact not only on airline companies but also on other businesses.
About 4,000 Maltese passengers were stranded abroad awaiting clearer skies to be able to travel home. Ivan Grech, the Winter Moods front man, who is expected to perform with his rock band tomorrow during the Pope's meeting with young people, was also stranded in Dublin.
"I had to leave Ireland on Thursday but after I checked in at 7.30 a.m. the flight was cancelled. I am keeping my fingers crossed hoping to be able to make it in time for Sunday's event," Mr Grech said when contacted in Dublin. He should be arriving in Malta at noon if the airspace restrictions over Dublin are lifted.
The theatre scene was also affected and the play The Importance Of Being Earnest, which had to be staged over the weekend at the Manoel Theatre, was cancelled.
A spokesman for the Manoel Theatre said the play was postponed to May 7 and 8 because the Tour de Force theatre company was unable to travel since airports in the UK were all closed.
Professional flight instructor Captain Nigel Dunkerley said ash was close to invisible the further away it drifted from the source of the eruption and was particularly dangerous at night because it could not be detected. The plume of ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano had a primary impact on commercial airlines, Capt. Dunkerley said, because it settled at an altitude of between 31,000 and 36,000 feet.
Ash is dangerous to airplanes because it can damage engines and cause them to stop working.