Volcano disruptions thread
 

Just sitting here at the Sheraton Skyline at London Heathrow.

Was supposed to be on QF2 this evening (Thursday 15/4) out of LHR for SYD. Flight has been cancelled but is showing a delayed departure of 24hrs 45mins scheduled for a departure at 2300 on Friday 16/4. QF are doing a good job in keeping me up to date the various changes. The interesting observation is the earliest they can get me out is on QF2 on Sunday 18/4. QF flights in and out of FRA are also impacted.

The latest update is that ALL non emergency flights are grounded up until 1300 GMT Friday 16/4. This may be extended to 1800 GMT pending a review by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) at 0230 GMT Friday 16/4. Some reports are indicating passengers should be prepared for a 48hr delay.

A very frustrating but totally understandable scenario.

Any news on how the Oz-SIN/BKK/HKG (and vv) ticketed passengers are doing? Or restated - are those sections still being flown?

Fred

No idea, but the in-laws are doing SYD-HKG-LHR tomorrow - so I'll be interested. (and I'm doing SYD-BKK-FRA on Sunday on TG+LH and even more interested!)

Special plane going to SIN today.
BKK, HKG still being sorted out.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...ions/global/en

For SIN, I was going to suggest a consolidation of flights would be the wise thing for QF to do. Indeed QF5 and QF9 have been cancelled today and QF 31 has now been rescheduled to operate SYD-MEL-SIN. QF29 MEL-HKG has been cancelled, and I imagine QF are busy reaccomodating HKG bound pax onto QF87 and CX168. QF1 SYD-BKK seems to be still operating.

Volcano disruptions thread
 

Folks - please add any factual information about flight delays/cancellations etc in this thread.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...ction=business

Qantas waiver for changes to bookings affected by Volcano etc now applies to flights 15-18April (previously it was only 15-16 April)

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...lobal/en#jump1

Still nothing on the Bangkok / Hong Kong flights, despite it being 3pm

:confused:

According to QF flight status, QF29 MEL-HKG-LHR has been cancelled today. No updates on QF30 in other direction though.

Other HKG flights do not continue on to LHR so should not be affected.

As for QF1 to BKK does not seem to be any updates and appears to be still operating (I guess as far as BKK??).

E/F shows QF1 SYD-BKK as cancelled:

http://snaps.se.id.au/1/20100416-qf1-syd-bkk.png

Still shows as 'Estimated' on Qantas.com though.

Update on Delays in Europe - 0600am GMT Friday 16/4
 

As of 0230am GMT Friday 16/4 the airspace closure has been extended to 1900 GMT Friday 16/4 pending a review by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) later this morning. This review may look to extend the closure through to 0100am on Saturday 17/4 while also looking to selectively open up certain air corridors.

The QF cancellations from LHR so far are:

THUR 15/4

QF10
QF2

FRI 16/4

QF30
QF32

According to QF the decision on QF2 / QF10 departures for Friday 16/4 will depending on the update from NATS later today Friday 16/4. While QF are saying that "We are unable to confirm departure times for these services until we have further advice from European authorities" I can confirm that my QF2 flight on Thursday 15/4 has been cancelled and QF have waitlisted me on both QF and BA flights starting Saturday 17/4 lunchtime on QF32 through until my confirmed reservation on Sunday 18/4 evening on QF2.

Their are currently unconfirmed reports that airspace between Northern Ireland and Scotland *may* gradually reopen through the day for some of commuter flights. Also Sweden in looking to gradually reopen airspace later today.

English Airspace Closure Extended to 0100 GMT Sat 17/4
 

At 0830 GMT NATS extended the closure of English airspace to 0100 GMT Saturday The next review by NATS will be 1300 GMT today.

QF1 from Sydney via Bangkok to London Heathrow operates at least as far as Bangkok with VH-OJH. Meanwhile a new flight QF8031 operates from Sydney via Melbourne to Singapore using A380 VH-OQC, the aircraft scheduled to have operated QF31.

from theqantassource.com.

Update from London 16/4 1900 GMT
 

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) said flight restrictions will remain in place until at least 7am GMT on Saturday 17/4.

The QF Call Centre are indicating that flights (QF2, QF10, QF30 and QF32) from London to Sydney / Melbourne up to and including 18/4 have been cancelled - albeit these are not being shown on the qantas.com website on either Flight Status of the banner page. Assuming the airspace is open, the 1st confirmed flight I can now get out on is QF2 on 21/4.

The question I have is what will happen to the 2 * 744's from the cancelled QF2 and QF10 services on Thursday 15/4? These are presumably sitting on the ground in LHR. I did hear "unofficial" reports these two aircraft would be flown back the SYD / MEL empty as soon as the airspace open up. Therefore all passengers off cancelled services from the 15/4 onwards would be accommodated on the turnaround of QF 1, 9, 29 and 31 services coming out of Australia (whenever these resume).

Europe Update 2200 GMT 16/4
 

Flights across England are still grounded and air traffic officials have extended the UK airspace closure to 12pm on Saturday 17/4.

The National Air Traffic Service (Nats), which controls traffic across Britain's airspace, lifted restrictions this evening to a large part of Scottish airspace including Scottish airports, Shetland, Orkneys and also Northern Ireland.

QF are now talking about not being able to get delayed passengers out until Wednesday 21/4.