Danish... and European airspace shuts down

[Barbara]

The cloud is now over most of Europe but you can really see that West Scotland has a chance of missing it as it takes an Eastern curve when it leaves Iceland. No flights until tomorrow- I can see myself drag my suitcase from home-station-Frankfurt- Brussels- hotel-station-London etc. Oh my! Our chancellor coming from San Francisco had to land in Lisbon and seems to be still there, some wounded soldiers from Afghanistan had to land in Istanbul.

[Killearn Kitties]

I heard some story on the news this morning about John Cleese taking a taxi from Oslo to Brussels! Maybe he will buy you dinner on your overnight stay, Barbara.

We should have known it was Clarkson's fault!

[Randi]

I've not heard from my sister yet, but they'll most likely be delayed too. Hopefully they get a few a extra nice days in Thailand.

It's fairly bright here, but not as sunny as the last couple of days.

At the moment it's expected that Danish airspace will stay closed until 02:00 AM sunday, at the least.

A link from Reuters with video:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63E1TM20100417

[Marigold2]

Best of luck to your sister. I just watched a news report on this. I always find it amazing that no matter how tech savvy we become mother nature has but to blow her top and we are at her mercy.
Wishing all travlers safety and a speedy flight home.

[Randi]

My sister and BIL got a good hotel near the airport in Thailand, so that's good. The latest news is that Danish airspace will stay closed until 02:00 AM monday. From the news we get, I expect it will be longer. The volcano is still spewing ashes.

My cousin's son and his girlfriend are on their way back from a 3,5 months trip around the world, they are stuck in Madrid.

I wonder what all of you would do if you were stranded somewhere? Seems it's time to start hitchhiking again, like we did in the seventies. I know I would, if I was within Europe and I really wanted/had to get back home. I did once, to and from Basel in Switzerland - it took me 24 hours, and I even slept 8 hours.

Here's a picture of the area the cloud reach:

[Medusa]

I wonder what all of you would do if you were stranded somewhere?

Friends and I were discussing this very subject last evening. If we were in Europe and especially on a budget and had to stay several days longer, it'd be pretty scary, not knowing anyone and worrying if we'd have enough money for a hotel, meals, etc. to see us through.

[ChrisH]

Airspace closed:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
Partial closures:
Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)
Norway (limited flights in north)
Spain (northern airports closed)
Flights operating:
Greece, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine

• The impact is likely to exceed the airspace shutdown after the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation

• TV presenter Dan Snow is using five rigid inflatable boats to help people who are stranded in France by carrying people from Calais to Dover throughout Sunday

• P&O ferry crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao are fully booked until Wednesday, as are those from Hull to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam over the weekend

• British Airways cancelled all long and short-haul flights in and out of the UK on Monday

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8627545.stm

It worries me a little because of my lung disease and living higher up but, unlike Karen, I've yet to see any settled dust, which is good.

[Randi]

If we were in Europe and especially on a budget and had to stay several days longer, it'd be pretty scary, not knowing anyone and worrying if we'd have enough money for a hotel, meals, etc. to see us through.

Mary, in situations like this, that is where people should come together and help each other out. I imagine many would offer accommodation if some have run out of money. What I don't like about this, is that hotels are taking advantage of the situation and charge more for rooms. For the people travelling to meeting, there are at least the internet these days.

Chris, I don't think you need to worry about your lungs, but in any case keep an eye out and stay inside if you see the dust cloud coming towards you.

What a mess this is!

Here's a later image of how the cloud is evolving: