European air traffic authorities today said that about 16,000 flights in European airspace are expected to be canceled today, because of the cloud of volcano ash from the Icelandic volcano.
Eurocontrol added that nearly 6,000 flights would operate today. Normally, 22,00 take off in European space daily.
Yesterday, nearly 10,400 flights took off, nearly 18,00 less than normal. According to Eurocontrol and local authorities, twenty-three European nations has barred takeoffs and landings today. Although, some of these countries opened their airspace, but the flight did not take off normally because the surrounding areas were not deemed fit for flights.
Major European airlines like Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Ryanair and Qantas have restricted their flights in Europe because of the ash, which is dangerous enough to stall engines and cause electrical failures in the aircraft.
Eurocontrol added that the plume of ash would remain in the atmosphere for at least one more day. The situation across Europe is chaotic and travelers are finding it hard to move from one place to another.
