Eurocontrol issues latest update on air traffic situation

Eurocontrol issued an update at 3.30pm this afternoon, on the air traffic situation. It expects around 12,000 flights to take place today in European airspace. On a normal day, they said they would expect 28,000. Yesterday, 15 April, there were 20,334 flights.

They said that airspace is currently not available for operation of civilian aircraft in the following countries/areas: the UK (excluding Scotland), Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, the north of France including all Paris airports, northern parts of Germany, parts of Poland including Warsaw airport and the Czech Republic.

Parts of the airspace in Ireland and Sweden have now opened. Stuttgart and Munich are still open.

Approximately 600 trans-Atlantic flights take place each day, 300 in each direction. Of the 300 flights that would usually arrive in Europe in the morning, today, between 100 and 120 arrived in Europe.

Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash is continuing to move east and south-east and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours.

The next update will be issued at approximately 9.30am CET tomorrow, Saturday, the 17th of April 2010.