The number of canceled flights between Buenos Aires, Argentina and cities in the U.S., Europe and South America continues to rise since it was first reported last week that stiff winds blew ash from a Chilean volcano in a widening arc across Argentina to the capital.
When news first broke Tuesday, at least six international carriers suspended flights between Buenos Aires and cities in the U.S., Europe and South America. On Monday, the Dow Jones reported the Chilean flagship carrier LAN Airlines again cancelled regional flights, mainly to and from Argentina's two busiest airports, as Chile's Puyehue volcano continued to spew ash, the company said Monday.
LAN also cancelled flights to southern Brazil and Uruguay. And, as the ash cloud made its way over the Pacific Ocean, it cancelled a Sunday flight between Santiago and Auckland, New Zealand-Sydney, Australia, and delayed another one serving the same route.
On Sunday, Qantas Airways Ltd. said it canceled flights to and from Melbourne and the island of Tasmania in southern Australia and services to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in New Zealand.
ABC Online is reporting that Qantas and Jetstar on Monday afternoon resumed flights to Melbourne, but their New Zealand and Tasmania services remain grounded. They will review all services again on Tuesday morning. Tiger Airways resumed regular services at 5 p.m. (AEST) on Monday, except for a cancelled flight from Perth to Melbourne. Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger have all cancelled flights to Adelaide, according to ABC Online.
And the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre head, Dr. Andrew Tupper, says the crisis in Australian airports is not yet over.
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for more updates.