Global General

Air traffic disruption may continue for another day

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-17 18:57

BRUSSELS - Disruption of air traffic in northern and central Europe due to the drifting Iceland volcanic ashes is likely to continue for another 24 hours at least, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, or Eurocontrol, said Saturday.

"Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash will persist and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours," the agency said in a statement.

It expected around 6,000 flights to take place in European airspace on Saturday, against 22,000 normally.

No flights were possible for civilian aircraft in most of northern and central Europe except those in southern Europe, including Spain, the southern Balkans, southern Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, it said.

Iceland's second volcano eruption in less than a month began under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in the south of the country early Wednesday.

Some 19 countries have fully or partially closed their airspace due to a massive cloud of ash from the erupting volcano in Iceland drifting toward Europe.

On Friday only, the volcanic dust forced the cancellation of about 16,000 flights worldwide.