Over a thousand passangers travelling between Colombia and France remain stranded, after their flights were cancelled, due to the cloud of volcanic ash that hangs over Europe, reports La Republica
Air France cancelled four flights on the Paris – Bogota route from 16 to 19 April and four on the Bogota – Paris route from 15 to 18 April, due to Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which continues to spew ash high into the airspace above Europe. Airlines fear that the highly abrasive ash could clog airplane engines, causing them to break down.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled have been offered reimbursement of their tickets, or the possibility to reschedule.
The French government reopened its airspace Tuesday, and some flight paths across Europe have reopened. However so far only middle-distance flights have resumed, meaning that the passengers flying between Colombia and France, and vice vera, continue to wait.
It is not yet clear when the trans-Atlantic flights will resume.
According to estimates, airlines have been losing about $200 million a day thanks to the cancellations caused by the volcanic eruption.
Eyjafjallajokull first errupted last Wednesday, leaving a massive cloud of ash lingering in the air over Europe.
