China delays Europe flights due to new volcanic eruption

BEIJING - Air China, the country’s international carrier, has announced that it has delayed its European flights due to the new volcanic eruption in Iceland that had spewed a huge ash cloud and again disrupted air traffic in the region.

Flights from Beijing to Sao Paulo, which stops by Madrid, and flights from Beijing to Milan were delayed, Air China said Saturday. The company did not say when the flights will resume.

The latest eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull since Friday has posed threat once again to air traffic in Europe. In Spain, 16 airports had to be closed because of disturbances from the ash cloud.