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The volcanic eruption that has been eagerly awaited has caused disruptions to flights at Iceland’s primary airport.
For the past six weeks, the Icelandic government has been observing earthquake patterns near Keflavik airport, a significant airport in the North Atlantic region for air travel.
The volcano is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the airport and northeast of Grindavik, a town with a population of 4,000 whose residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Based on information from Flightradar24, the most recent departure from Keflavik airport was a flight operated by easyJet bound for Manchester. The departure was delayed by over five hours, taking off at 1:35am and arriving at Manchester airport at 4am without incident.
EasyJet informed passengers that their flight has been delayed due to volcanic activity in Keflavik (KEF), which has caused restrictions on flight routes. The safety of passengers and crew is the top priority and the airline appreciates their patience.
Flights arriving at Keflavik Airport started at approximately 5am and have been running mostly as scheduled. However, there have been disruptions due to a string of strikes by air traffic controllers. These employees are currently in a disagreement regarding their wages and have been intermittently walking off the job, with another strike planned for Wednesday morning, December 20th.
Icelandair has assured passengers that the current volcanic eruption will have minimal impact on their operations or Keflavik airport. They have stated that their flight schedule will not be affected.
“Our flights have not been delayed or cancelled due to the volcanic eruption. The safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority and guides all of our decisions. We are closely monitoring the situation and will update our passengers with any new developments.”
Several flights leaving Keflavik on Tuesday morning are experiencing significant delays. The initial flights for Play, a recently launched Icelandic airline, are projected to take off four to five hours behind schedule.
“The Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland experienced a volcanic eruption on December 18, 2023, causing the closure of roads to Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon. The situation is currently under evaluation.”
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We anticipate no interruptions to our flight plan, however, ensuring safety remains our utmost concern and the situation is continuously monitored by the appropriate authorities.
“We kindly request that all passengers with upcoming flights pay attention to any messages from us regarding a potential disturbance to our flight itinerary.”
Flights from the United Kingdom to Iceland seem to be running as usual.
The initial takeoff between the two nations was easyJet’s flight 2259 from Manchester to Keflavik, which left a few minutes earlier than expected.
Currently, there are no indications of an ash cloud similar to the one that caused flight disruptions in 2010.
Due to its proximity to the eruption zone, the Blue Lagoon, a highly sought-after tourist spot in Iceland, has been shut down. It had recently resumed operations for the holiday season after being closed for several weeks.
Guests are being informed that our facilities are currently closed. We will reach out to all guests who have reservations for the upcoming days.
“We will continue to oversee the development and maintain frequent contact with the governing bodies, with a focus on ensuring safety and well-being.”
Founder of Discover The World, a top Iceland travel company, Clive Stacey informed The Independent that there is a possibility of lava reaching Grindavik in the future. However, measures are being taken to build a wall and redirect the flow away from the town.
The Blue Lagoon and geothermal power plant are currently safeguarded by a wall. At this point, this is not a “tourist eruption” and visitors have been advised to avoid the area.
“Our hearts go out to the residents of Grindavik during this challenging time. It is important to note that the town was evacuated well in advance of the current volcanic eruption.”
The volcano’s eruption did not significantly affect flights to and from Keflavik airport, except for a temporary closure of the airspace for about an hour at the beginning of the eruption to evaluate potential risks for air travel.
Source: independent.co.uk
