Volcanic Ash: Airports Start Closing Again
The volcanic ash that grounded flights for days, including Bermuda flights, has started affecting airline travel again.
The volcano has continued to send up fresh clouds of ash, and the westerly winds are carrying this ash into UK airspace. Presently the ash is clouding airspace in Scotland, parts of Ireland, and in the northernmost parts of England.
Airspace in the middle and south of the England is considered safe flying space. Bermuda’s UK gateway is Gatwick Airport which is south of London.
UK BA flights from Gatwick to Bermuda leave Gatwick at 11:00am [local time] each day. If an Icelandic ash cloud causes airport closures that far south in the UK, then both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are likely to be closed at the same time.
The airspace above Scotland and Northern Ireland has been closed today [May 5] due to the movement of volcanic ash. Airports closed include Glasgow, Prestwick, Stornoway, Benbecula, Tiree, Islay, Barra, Campbeltown, Belfast International, Belfast City, Derry. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled.
The closure of air space follows yesterday’s closures, which saw flights grounded in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and western Scotland.
News report on the closures:
Met Office predictions were that the ash cloud would remain, but would likely be carried west, and away from Gatwick, by anticipated wind shifts.
Gatwick Airport was previously closed for several days last month by ash coming from Iceland’s volcano. That long closure prevented Bermuda’s Premier, and many others, from getting back to Bermuda on regularly scheduled BA flights out of Gatwick.
With its eye on the ash cloud, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority [CAA] said:
The situation remains changeable, so passengers expecting to travel from airports in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North of England and north Wales should contact their airlines to check whether their flight is operating.
Latest reports, at 9am local have the ash cloud over Wales and the CAA says:
Based on current forecasts, the CAA does not expect airports in the South East of England to be affected.
So for today, Gatwick and the Bermuda flights seems good to go.
