Updated on
Summary
Airline passengers face major disruption after ash from Iceland's volcanic eruption moves into UK and Europe airspace with all airports closed on Thursday.All flights in Norway and northern Sweden, as well as all London flights, were cancelled because of the risks posed by volcanic ash, which can also damage aircraft engines. Between 700 and 800 people were evacuated from their homes in the remote, lightly populated area 125kms (75 miles) east of Reykjavik, as melted glacier water caused massive flooding. Last month, the first volcano eruption at the Eyjafjallajokull glacier since 1823 - and Iceland's first since 2004 - briefly forced 600 people from their homes in the same area. That eruption, which gushed lava for just over three weeks, ended on Tuesday.Some flights in Denmark and northern Finland also appeared to be disrupted. However, airports in Iceland stayed open on Thursday. Flights to and from Iceland are still ok.The wind is blowing the ash to the east, Hjordis Gudmundsdottir of the Icelandic Airport Authority told reporters. Iceland's main airport Keflavik, to the west, and all other airports in Iceland are open today. It's amazing really, she said. Things here should be fine for the next 12 hours at least, and we think probably all day, judging from the weather forecast, she added.
