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Currently, Iceland is experiencing heightened seismic activity with a volcanic eruption occurring on the Reykjanes Peninsula, located southwest of Reykjavik.
The Icelandic authorities have been observing seismic movement near Keflavik airport, a significant hub for air travel in the North Atlantic, for a period of six weeks.
The volcano is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the airport and northeast of the town of Grindavik. The 4,000 residents of the town were evacuated as a precaution.
However, flights are still operating as usual. Here are the essential inquiries and responses regarding consumer rights.
Can I depart from Iceland?
Yes, assuming the international airport remains open. So far operations have been largely normal, after a pause to assess the risk as the eruption began. An easyJet departure to Manchester due out early evening on Monday eventually took off at 1.35am on Tuesday, over five hours late, and arrived safely at Manchester airport at 4am.
The airline informed passengers that their flight was delayed due to volcanic activity in Keflavik, which has limited the areas where planes can fly. The safety of passengers and crew is the top priority and they appreciate their patience during this time.
On Tuesday, the majority of flights are operating as usual.
You might want to depart earlier than scheduled to ensure your departure, but currently, you cannot change your flight without incurring a fee.
The Foreign Office has not revised its guidance in several weeks, following the onset of seismic activity in the region.
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that travel can proceed, despite recent earthquakes occurring 10 miles south of Keflavík International, the main airport in Iceland.
However, wasn’t there a week-long disruption of European air travel due to an Icelandic volcano?
Yes. Travellers may remember where they were in April 2010, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted. The skies of northern Europe completely closed to passenger aviation for almost a week.
Approximately 250 million cubic meters of volcanic ash was expelled and drifted towards the UK and continental Europe due to the wind. There was concern that the ash could cause harm to airplane engines and potentially lead to crashes. This resulted in the largest halt of air travel since World War II, with 50,000 flights being cancelled and 8 million passengers experiencing disruptions to their travel plans.
Over 50,000 flights and eight million passengers’ travel plans were disrupted due to cancellations.
As of 2023, ash has not been a problem in the current geological eruption.
Luckily, the situation is vastly dissimilar. The volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted from under a glacier. Due to the presence of melting water, the lava rapidly solidified into small pieces. These were immediately ejected into the air at an altitude of 30,000 feet by the steam generated during the eruption.
The ongoing volcanic activity is not causing a similar impact. The molten rock will eventually cool and solidify on the surface.
Furthermore, updated protocols implemented after the eruption in 2010 permit airplanes to continue flying even if there is some amount of volcanic ash present. Another volcano in Iceland erupted in 2011, and during that occurrence, only 1% of flights in northern Europe were cancelled, instead of the 100% that were cancelled on certain days during that unprecedented period.
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland has been shut down as a precautionary measure.
What happens if I have already reserved a package vacation?
The guidance from the Foreign Office does not recommend avoiding travel to Iceland, which allows vacation companies to function normally. This also means that there is no guarantee to cancel plans automatically.
Iceland is a nation dotted with volcanic areas.
Until and unless the Foreign Office warns against travel, the assumption is that everything will go ahead as normal.
The FCDO recommends that travelers refer to the following sources for any updates:
The one exception is for holidaymakers who had planned to stay at the Blue Lagoon, an increasingly popular “wellness” destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site. The Blue Lagoon is currently closed.
Only those booked for a stay have the chance to cancel; if you were hoping to pop in as a day visitor for a steamy stop in the volcanic rock pools, you will need to return at some time in the future.
Am I able to make a claim on my insurance?
Sorry, but unless it falls under the extremely rare “cancel for any reason” coverage, “disinclination to travel” is not a valid reason for a claim on regular travel insurance.
Is Iceland a destination you would consider visiting right now?
I would be delighted to have the chance. Visiting Iceland during the winter season offers great value. The current conditions are also ideal for witnessing a spectacular display of the Northern Lights, which are currently at their peak in the 11-year cosmic cycle.
I am aware that the Icelandic authorities are highly skilled in managing seismic activity, as they have exceptional monitoring and emergency systems in place.
I am considering booking a package vacation, but I am aware that if there is any discomfort caused by the earth in the area, I can cancel and receive a complete refund.
It is possible that the recent volcanic activity could become a tourist attraction, similar to what has happened in the past. However, this is not the case currently. Clive Stacey, the creator of a prominent travel company specializing in Iceland called Discover The World, stated that as of now, this eruption is not suitable for tourism and visitors have been advised to avoid the area.
“During this challenging period, our hearts go out to the residents of Grindavik. It is worth noting that the town was evacuated well in advance of the recent volcanic activity.”
Source: independent.co.uk
