- Title: GERMANY: Munich airport closes due to ash cloud
- Date: 10th May 2010
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (MAY 9, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PEOPLE STANDING IN QUEUES INSIDE MUNICH TERMINAL BUILDING DEPARTURES BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS VARIOUS OF DEPARTURES BOARD VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS LOOKING AT BOARD VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS LYING ON GROUND VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS STANDING AROUND INSIDE TERMINAL BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, HUBERT KIRSCH, SAYING: "We came to the check-in desk and there were around 10 people in front of us. Then a lady come out and told us nothing would be going because of volcanic ash. Then we had a think about what to do and waited for further information, but no more information was given until the flight was put on the board as cancelled." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, RENATE ZAKIC, SAYING: "At first we didn't know anything and my husband and I were very surprised and now he is trying to find a way to get to Vienna because of course we would like to be in Vienna tomorrow." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER, JANE SPARTHEIM, SAYING: "I thought it was all over. I feel sorry for all these people with travel and vacation plans. But it's an act of God, right? (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER, JASON MAYOR, SAYING: "I arrived almost two hours ago, I was on my way to Milan and I don't know a whole lot yet so I'll see what happens." VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS STANDING IN QUEUES INSIDE TERMINAL BUILDING SIGN READING (IN GERMAN) "DESK FOR CANCELLED DOMESTIC FLIGHTS" PASSENGERS WAITING VARIOUS OF WOMAN SLEEPING
- Embargoed: 25th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Environment / Natural World,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA4JZVJS9XA231196Z9X8PS4CXE
- Story Text: Germany's second largest airport closed on Sunday (May 9) due to a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland. Air traffic stopped at around 1300GMT and an airport spokesperson said it was unclear when take-off and landing would be able to start again.
Hundreds of passengers could be seen queuing inside the terminal building. Many said they did not know what to do.
"We came to the check-in desk and there were around 10 people in front of us. Then a lady come out and told us nothing would be going because of volcanic ash. Then we had a think about what to do and waited for further information, but no more information was given until the flight was put on the board as cancelled," Hubert Kirsch told Reuters TV.
Other passengers seemed surprised that the chaos had started again.
"I thought it was all over. I feel sorry for all these people with travel and vacation plans. But it's an act of God, right?" said passenger Jane Spartheim.
Italy also closed a large part of its airspace in the north of the country until at least the early afternoon on Sunday to counter the risk posed by volcanic ash coming from Iceland, the civil aviation authority ENAC said.
The block on flights began at 0600 GMT (0800 local time) and was expected to last until at least 1200 GMT.
A bulletin issued on Sunday by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre said the ash was expected to stay over Italy until Sunday evening.
Several Spanish airports in northern Spain including Barcelona reopened on Sunday after being shut on Saturday as a precaution against the ash cloud.
Ireland expects to impose restrictions to traffic at western airports later on Sunday as ash from the Icelandic volcano drifts back over the country.
In Portugal, the airport in the country's second city, Porto, was shut until midday (1000 GMT), while the French aviation authority said some 30 flights from Paris to southern Europe were cancelled, although French skies were open. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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