Ash cloud to ground around 1,000 flights

THE HAGUE/LONDON/BRUSSELS - The ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano is expected to ground around 1,000 flights Monday, said Europe’s air safety agency, Eurocontrol.

“Today Eurocontrol expects 28,000 flights in Europe. This is approximately 1,000 less than on a normal day,” the agency said.

The ash flow was affecting airports in the Netherlands and Britain.

The Netherland’s two biggest airports in Amsterdam and Rotterdam would be closed Monday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., officials said.

Heathrow and Gatwick, London’s two main airports partially reopened early Monday as disruption continued for travellers as a result of the volcanic ash cloud, the air traffic control service said. Regional airports were also affected.

Eurocontrol said the ash cloud would “disperse somewhat” over the course of the day. By 1200 GMT it was expected to move away from the Netherlands and “to mainly affect Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and parts of south-west (England)”.

However, the agency did not rule out “continuing disruption” to air traffic in the London area.

The ash comes from the volcano in Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, which started erupting in March. In mid-April, the continuing ash output started disrupting flights in and out of Europe, causing major economic and logistical havoc.