Trans-Atlantic flights delayed

Most flights between Europe and North America were delayed yesterday due to the spreading cloud of volcanic ash stretching across much of the northern Atlantic, the European flight control agency said.

Flights were rerouted north over Greenland or south over Spain to avoid the 2000km-long cloud stretching from Iceland to northern Spain, Eurocontrol said. This was due to increase flying times by about an hour in either direction.

Approximately 600 airliners make the oceanic crossing every day. Around 40 per cent were due to be rerouted south and the rest would skirt Iceland from the north.

The plume of ash yesterday also forced the closure of 15 airports in northern Spain and was expanding into southern France, carried along by Atlantic winds. Spain's main international airports of Madrid and Barcelona were expected to remain open.

Just over 100 flights were cancelled at mainland Portugal's three international airports yesterday because of the ash cloud.

Until Eyjafjallajokul, the volcano in southern Iceland, stops its emissions, the key to the future course of Europe's ash crisis will be the prevailing winds. The eruption of the volcano has shown no signs of stopping since it began belching ash April 13. It last erupted from 1821 to 1823.

Since the ash is reaching altitudes of up to 10,000m, in the path of most trans-Atlantic flights, it will effectively block the usual routes. Eurocontrol said this would cause significant congestion, particularly in the airspace over Spain and Portugal where many of the diverted flights are heading.

A flight from New York to Paris could add on another 1000km by being diverted over the Iberian Peninsula.

- AP