News / More flight disruptions
LOGANAIR has cancelled all its flights for Monday, the fifth consecutive day since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud drifted into UK airspace.
There were some hopes earlier today that flights may resume from Shetland and Orkney after the national air traffic service (NATS) said there might be “a limited opportunity” to resume with some flights from the northern isles as of 7pm.
But Loganair’s commercial director Jonathan Hinkles said: “Based on the latest atmospheric information available, Loganair has now taken the decision to cancel all flights for tomorrow, Monday 19 April.
“No flight operations will take place and the situation will be kept under review on a daily basis. A decision about flights scheduled for Tuesday 20 April will be taken on Monday afternoon.
“Loganair regrets the ongoing inconvenience and disruption to customers, but continues to ask for passengers’ understanding that flight safety must always remain our first priority. The ongoing situation with the volcanic ash cloud poses a clear and direct threat to aviation safety and we will not resume operations until it is deemed safe so to do.
“For those customers booked to travel on flights which are now cancelled or those holding bookings on flights due to depart within the next 72 hours but who wish to delay their travel plans or find alternative means of travelling, Loganair and Flybe are offering three alternatives:
1. Re-booking on any flight departing within the next 28 days, provided that seats are available, without any charges for change fees or difference in fare;
2. Re-booking for travel at any other time outside the 28 day window, although a difference in fare may be payable if the new flight selected is at a higher fare than the original booking;
3. Cancel and obtain a full refund for any / all parts of the journey not taken.
“Flybe’s customer call centre can be contacted on 0871 700 2000. The Loganair helpline for passengers booking under the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) can be contacted today (Sunday, 18 April) on 01496 302 022 until 6.30pm.
“Our usual ADS helpline – 0844 800 2855 – will be available from 7am until 5pm tomorrow (Monday, 19 April). We expect call volumes to be high and we are doing everything that we can to make additional lines available.”
Meanwhile, a Scottish government statement said this afternoon that spaces were still available on NorthLink’s sailing between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick tonight (Sunday), and on Monday night’s sailing from Lerwick to Kirkwall and Aberdeen.
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