Volcanic ash and flights — cancellations and your passenger rights

Ash is made of tiny particles of rock and glass. In a hot jet engine they melt and coat the turbine blades, which can cause the engine to shut down. That is why volcano observatories issue aviation colour codes and air traffic control closes the sectors the cloud passes through.

The best-known example is the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, when airspace over much of Europe was closed and more than 100,000 flights were cancelled. Today the most frequent source of such disruption is Etna and Catania airport.

EU Regulation 261/2004 provides fixed compensation for cancelled flights, but not when the cause is an extraordinary circumstance — and a volcanic eruption is one. Your rights do not end there, though.

You can still choose a full refund or re-routing at the earliest opportunity. While you wait, the airline must provide care: meals, drinks, accommodation and transport to the hotel. The EU Court of Justice confirmed in McDonagh v Ryanair (C-12/11) that the duty of care applies even when airspace is closed because of volcanic ash.

Check your flight status before going to the airport. If the flight is cancelled, pick a refund or rebooking in the airline app straight away. Keep receipts for food and accommodation if the airline did not provide them — you can claim them back later. If you are diverted to another airport, ask about the onward transfer.

If you have travel insurance, check whether it covers delays and extra nights. Current situations are covered in our articles on the Etna eruption and the Iceland volcano.