More Volcano Trouble for Flights

(May 08) – Flights out of Europe disrupted again on Saturday, and Sunday’s flights may see as many delays if not remain at the gates as the jet stream is once again sends choking clouds of ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokul volcano right into the flight path between Europe and North America.

Airlines forced to use routes much further south than normal in recent weeks have found the ash cloud, which is spreading eastward, unavailable as well. Unfortunately, the 1,200-mile long cloud is now causing traffic problems for flights out of both France and Spain which, have already seen an almost 4 hour increase in the flight time between the two continents.

Spain’s Barcelona hub remained closed along with another 19 northern airports. Spain is reporting that 670 flights had been canceled due to the volcanic ash today, with an additional 125 flights from Portugal canceled until noon local time.

The ash cloud is hovering at an altitude of about 35,000 feet just about the same altitude that most transatlantic flights use. With no signs of the Iceland’s volcano relenting, air travel disruptions apparently will become more, “Business as usual” than inconvenience as the airline industry no longer has to battle with governmental restrictions but, are doing battle with Mother Nature, a battle they cannot win.