Global Fallout: Iceland volcano 3,000 miles away affecting Armenia

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By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow reporter

Armenia is among countries whose airline traffic has been affected by an Iceland volcano eruption that shut down travel for several days across Europe.

British Midland International (BMI) cancelled Yerevan-London-Yerevan flights and Armavia shut down Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan, Yerevan-Zurich-Yerevan, Yerevan-Amsterdam-Yerevan, Yerevan-Odessa-Yerevan flights. On Monday, April 19, the flights to Prague, Vienna, Athens and Perm were also canceled.

Due to European delays in air traffic, even an international conference scheduled on Tuesday by the Civilitas foundation is also postponed, because the main participant of the even has not managed to fly to Yerevan.

Levon Vardanyan, Head of Haypethydromet, told ArmeniaNow that they yet could not provide any information whether the volcanic ash will reach Armenia.

“We have not had such an experience before, that is why we do not have an opportunity to examine this case now. This is the first time that the volcanic ash is spread so widely, and we do not know what will happen tomorrow,” Vardanyan says.

Source: armenianow.com

Volcanic eruption affected Armenia-Europe flights

Armavia air company suspended Yerevan-Paris flight till April 17, 9:00 a.m. due to ash cloud caused by eruption of volcano in Iceland, company’s press service informed news.am. Earlier, it was reported that British Midland Airways cancelled Yerevan-London flight.
Disaster caused aviation collapse in many European countries. Thus, yesterday airspaces of Belgium, UK, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Sweden were closed.
The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano covered UK and a number of states in the Continent, as well as Scandinavia, Finland and northern-western regions of Russia.
Meanwhile, the experts forecast that disaster might upset operation of air transport for weeks and even months.
About 6000 flights were cancelled in Europe within last 24 hours. Largest European airports are closed for an indefinite period. Passengers, who bought tickets on their own might return them and get a refund with no fine in case of cancelled flight.
Cancellation and suspension of flights in European airports, as well as closed airspaces might cost companies $1bn.

Source: news.am

Yerevan-Paris flight delayed due to volcanic ash

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armavia national carrier has delayed Yerevan-Paris flight.
“The flight was delayed due to the ash cloud formed from an Icelandic volcano that filled the skies over northern Europe,” Zvartnots Airports press service told PanARMENIAN.Net
Air France office in Yerevan said that all flights to Paris were delayed till 2 pm (6 pm Yerevan time).
Authorities in Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Belgium also closed their air space. France shut down 24 airports, including the main hub of Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Germany's Berlin and Hamburg were shut Thursday evening, and several flights out of the U.S. had to double back.

Source: panarmenian.net