The Situation Ash from the Grimsvötn volcano in Iceland, which began erupting on Saturday 21 May 2011, has resulted in the closure of airspace in some areas of northern Europe. According to the Met Office, which runs Europe's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, there was more uncertainty over this eruption because weather was much more changeable. However, the University of Iceland said the Grimsvötn eruption is not likely to be anything on the scale that was produced last year when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted. As of Wednesday, air traffic at Berlin's Tegel (TXL) and Schonenfeld (SXF) airports, as well as Bremen and Hamburg airports, is stopped as a safety precaution due to increased levels of ash in the area. Hannover Airport is operating normally and officials there state that all flights are on schedule. Other airports in the country are not affected. Areas of high ash concentration May 24 were over northern parts of the UK. About 500 flights were canceled from the approximately 29,000 that would have been expected across Europe. In further reports, the ash cloud will likely affect parts of Denmark, southern Norway and southwest Sweden on Wednesday, which would cause flight disruptions. However, given the new procedures and forecasted movement of the ash cloud, the actual affect on flights over the coming days will probably be relatively low. Ash from Grimsvotn is heavier and will likely remain aloft for less time than the ash from the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, which erupted in 2010 and caused a six-day shutdown of European airspace. Since the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, airports across Europe introduced new safety regimes to mitigate future disruptions. Airlines can now fly through ash clouds if their fleets can handle medium- to high-level densities of volcanic ash. Azumano Travel will continue to monitor this situation and the potential impact on travelers. Please note that we do not always receive advance notification of airport closures or flight cancellations, but we do strive to communicate to our clients as needed when travel may be impacted. Recommendations for Travelers and Travel Bookers - Travelers should contact the airline or local airport to find out if their scheduled flight has been cancelled or will take off as normal.
- If you are stranded and require immediate assistance, please contact us via your normal booking channel.
- Check local news for information
- In an emergency, travelers are encouraged to follow the guidance of local authorities.
- If an upcoming flight is cancelled, travelers should be reminded to cancel their hotel room and car rentals as well.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work together through challenging situations that impact you and your travelers. | 
