Swiss air space closed until at least Tuesday 20 April 08:00
Swiss skies open under 11,000 metres (36,000 feet)
Note to travelers: Check our earlier stories for useful links to airports and more, plus background
Update 11:00 Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss civil aviation authorities said Monday morning 19 April that Swiss air space will remain closed until at least 08:00 Tuesday, with the ash cloud from Iceland’s volcano still over Switzerland. Some countries, including Austria and the Czech Republic are starting to reopen, at least partially, their airspace Monday morning.
Planes that fly using sight rather than instruments are allowed to fly under 11,000 metres and Sunday the skies over the Alps and around cities such as Zurich were filled with pleasure craft as a result. Planes that fly by instrument are largely commercial craft.
Spain, which holds the EU presidency, called Saturday for European transport ministers to meet today, Monday – by video conference, given the impossibility of joining each other. They are reviewing the airports situation and coordinating a solution once airports throughout Europe are allowed to open. The closures have affected 6.8 million air passengers.