Disruption to UK flights due to ash cloud

[ArabiaTerra]

Some great footage of the eruption.

 

[sharalee99]

Flight Operations Update for Monday 17th May

 

Details of the No Fly Zone imposed today by the Civil Aviation Authority as a result of the fresh volcanic ash cloud are now available. A significant number of airports in Scotland are closed this morning as a result, including Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Wick and Campbeltown

 

All flight from/to Sumburgh are cancelled this morning up to 11.30.

 

BE6912 Sumburgh to Glasgow – next info 09:00, expected departure 13:00

 

If your flight is cancelled, please do not go to the Airport, please phone the reservations numbers below

 

Rebooking Policy

 

If your flight has been cancelled, you can:

 

a) Rebook free of charge for travel within the next 28 days subject to space being available on the aircraft.

 

Rebook for travel at any time for no charge provided that your original fare is available.

 

c) Obtain a full refund for any part(s) of the journey not taken.

 

 

 

Also if you are booked to travel on a flight departing this afternoon (Monday 17 May) we are offering the facility to change your reservation without charge and without payment of any difference in fare which would apply under normal circumstances.

 

 

 

We regret that we are unable to offer a refund to any customer who decides not to travel unless the flight on which you are booked to travel is formally declared as cancelled.

 

 

 

 

 

Reservations contacts

 

The Flybe call centre can be contacted on 0871 700 2000. Loganair’s Air Discount Scheme helpline on 0844 800 2855 will be open from 07:00 to assist customers wishing to re-arrange their travel plans. Inter-island reservations for LOG flights within the Orkney Islands only can be contacted via (01856) 872494.

 

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[obinem]

This Morning I could read this on the flybe homepage

 

Flybe welcomes new CAA fules for Q400 flying.

We can confirm that with immediate effect Flybe will be the first airline in the UK to be able to fly within the new CAA-approved safe levels of volcanic ash. The CAA called upon the industry to bring forward thoroughly researched proposals to safely improve the ability to fly in the vicinity of low level volcanic ash concentrations. Flybe worked closely with the Met Office, Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney our engine manufacturers in Canada to develop the proposals which have today been endorsed by the CAA. Flybe’s overriding concern is always safety, and these new rules arise from a proven process of safety management within the company and the industry which helps make air travel the safest form of public transport.

Well basically it means that we will be far less affected by any future ash clouds coming our way. Taking the last two days as an example, at Flybe we had to cancel 380 flights under the previous rules, the new rules we have just been given by the CAA mean we would have only have had to cancel 21. This would mean that less than 3% of our total programme would have been affected.

 

I fear this concerns only the Q400 Airplane and not the Saab 340, which serves Shetland.

 

Intending to fly to Shetland in 10 days I hope there will be also an arrangement for the Saab 340.