Chilean volcano causing flight cancellations in Australia and New Zealand

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN), Australia’s biggest-carrier, and its Jetstar budget brand canceled 47 flights because of an ash cloud created by an volcanic eruption in the Andes Mountains in southern Chile.

“At this stage there are rolling delays, with all Qantas flights canceled to and from Tasmania and some flights” to and from New Zealand halted today, Sydney-based spokeswoman Olivia Wirth said in an e-mailed response to questions. Jetstar has stopped 25 services, according to a statement on its website.

Airlines canceled about 320 flights in and out of two international airports in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 9 after the eruption, according to the terminals’ operator, Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 SA. The ash, which can damage airplane engines, also disrupted services in southern Brazil.

Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. (VBA) is operating with changed flight paths and altitude levels, Melissa Thomson, a Brisbane-based spokeswoman, said by telephone today. The airline is assessing the situation and may cancel one service, she said. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-11/qantas-cancels-13-flights-because-of-volcanic-ash-cloud-in-southern-chile.html

[MrModerate]

1. Arglebargle! I was supposed to go to Santiago on Tuesday from Brisbane . . .

Now I have to go through LA or Dallas and maybe still get stopped at Lima. This turns a 14-hour flight into a 30-hour flight -- if I'm lucky.

This plate tectonics stuff is more trouble than it's worth, IMO.

[woo me with science]

2. Wow.

Thanks for posting this.