European Airspace A Few Minutes Ago

[mcgillianaire]

According to Eurocontrol, they expect "approximately 6,000 flights to take place today in European airspace. On a normal Saturday, we would expect 22,000. Yesterday, there were 10,400 flights compared to the normal 28,000. No landings and take offs are possible for civilian aircraft across most of northern and central Europe . This includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Northern France, most of Germany, Hungary, Ireland, northern Italy, the Netherlands, southern Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK." Absolutely incredible! On a lighter note, The Telegraph investigates What has Iceland done for Britain?

Comments

As seen on marginalrevolution.com

[dubaiwalla.livejournal.com]

"Iceland's last wish: to have its ashes scattered all over Europe"

Re: As seen on marginalrevolution.com

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Haha! Nice.

[loganberrybunny.livejournal.com]

There seems to be an exemption for microlights; one went over here just a few minutes ago, and there was one around 6pm last night, too. I suppose it must be because they have such simple engines and fly so low.

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Ah. What are microlights?

[loganberrybunny.livejournal.com]

These things. Powered hang-gliders, basically. I doubt you see them much in London, since there probably isn't much room in amongst all the other aircraft.

[kapitankraut.livejournal.com]

They had a soundbite from a bloke from Eurocontrol on the news here last night, and serious though it all is I couldn't help but laugh at his surname - Sultana.

What was really bizarre, though, was the vox pop they did at Sydney airport or somewhere like that. People seemed to be seriously blaming the airlines and suggesting that something "had to be done" by Qantas or BA or whoever they were flying with. Sure, it's natural to do that a bit, but the reactions some people seemed to have you almost felt like shaking them and saying "There's a giant volcano causing this, you know?"

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Hehe. I found that really bizarre as well with some of the stuff I've been hearing and reading. Iceland are getting a lot of of lip for something that's outta everybody's control!

[messicat.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend's dad is currently stuck in Switzerland and will be getting a coach to France and a yacht back to England along with the other executives from the conference he was there for. Hiring a yacht was actually the cheapest option, go figure.

I saw some footage of the flights over Europe, it is insane, wow the air traffic controllers do amazing work!

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, thanks for telling me about that! My mum's cousin is visiting me from Switzerland and we were JUST discussing his travel options back to Berne. I'll tell him about the yacht... do you know from where and to where exactly he'll be taking it?

And agreed about ATCs. It's a job I wouldn't want to do - esp at Heathrow!

[messicat.livejournal.com]

I assume it would be near the channel, but I'm honestly not 100% sure sorry, he didn't give us the exact details when he called on the weekend. I imagine there are lots of people trying to work out alternative travel arrangements at the moment, sounds like absolute chaos!

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Noworries. Yeh, it certainly is absolute chaos. Some good stories though for years to come!