Ash cloud disruption

Ash cloud disruption

Once again, the volcanic ash cloud is causing serious disruption. This time, I was caught in the chaos.

Even though flights from Heathrow, where I had been covering the UK election, were not grounded, the Icelandic volcano was ruining holidays and business trips.

My flight, the Virgin Atlantic VS21 to Washington DC, is a good example of how the delays stack up.

We boarded late, because the incoming aircraft arrived behind schedule. This is because all transatlantic flights are flying around the cloud, increasing flight times.

But then there were more surprises.

With Spanish airspace closed, the new route over northern Europe is nine hours and 40 minutes, rather than eight hours and 10 minutes.

This means the plane needs to be loaded with extra fuel, and regulations insist that an extra (third) pilot is in the cabin. He had to be called in from home.

Once the pilot arrived, the paperwork, concerning the new routing, needs to be approved.

By the time all this had been sorted, we had missed our slot, as have most of the transatlantic flights. The delays are growing.

As I write, sitting on board in my airline seat, we have a three hour delay on our take-off time. And with the longer flight, an arrival time delayed by a total of four and a half hours.