Many readers of Open Jaw will recall the enormous impact of the 2010 eruption of an Icelandic volcano that spewed huge ash clouds into the atmosphere, disrupting transatlantic air traffic and stranding millions of pax.
So the travel industry was alarmed to hear of a new eruption 10JUL in the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system outside of the country's capital.
The BBC reports that smoke and lava have been pouring out of Mount Fagradalsfjall, about 20 miles from Rekjavik and just 10 miles from KEF, and that, "domestic flights were delayed after the eruption created a plume of smoke over the road connecting the capital to the country's largest airport."
It notes the eruption comes following recent, intense earthquakes in the region, known for seismic activity. However, authorities, while advising residents to keep windows closed against fumes, are not sounding any alarms about danger from lava flows to those nearby at this time.
Ultra-low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY, which , as Open Jaw reported, recently began operating flights between Ontario's Hamilton (YHM) airport and Europe via its Iceland hub, has advised that - at least at this time - there's no cause for concern for air travellers.
According to a statement by the ULCC sent at around 3 pm EDT 10JUL to Open Jaw, KEF remained open "and incoming flights are about to get a truly spectacular view" as the eruption is very visible even in daylight.
In the summer of 2022, another eruption lured tourists to take dangerous risks in the pursuit of selfies, and, as Open Jaw reported, at least three tourists were injured by venturing too close to the hot magma and its noxious fumes.
PLAY's statement indicates that the current lava flow appears to be "coming from the site of the previous eruption in 2022," with no indication of any risk of damage to infrastructure this year, either.
However, local safety services advise that as of 10JUL, 2023, local authorities have closed the Reykjanes peninsula eruption area to visitors due to "life threatening gas pollution."
Up-to-date information is available at safetravel.is.
