Slovakia's airspace remains closed until further notice due to the volcanic ash cloud drifting across Europe from Iceland, the spokesman for the Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, Stanislav Jurikovič, told the TASR newswire on April 18.
According to Dana Madunická, the spokesperson for M.R. Štefánik Airport in Bratislava, a total of 55 flights have been suspended to and from the airport since the airspace was shut down on Friday, April 16 at 15:00. Approximately 8,200 people have had their travel plans disrupted.
Low-cost carrier Ryanair, which operates the majority of flights at Bratislava airport, will not fly until Wednesday, April 21 at 13:00, company spokesperson Henrike Schmidt told media on Sunday, April 18. This will affect flights to and from the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, northern France and Germany. The decision follows the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation closing the western European airspace because of the ash spewing from the Eyjaffjallajokull volcano in Iceland.
Slovakia has had its airspace closed since Friday, April 16. As many as 87 flights have not been dispatched due to the ash cloud so far. There have been about 12,500 passengers affected by the situation. According to Madunická, the airport terminal remains open despite the cancelled flights.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
