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Coverage in Florida of the Icelandic volcano does not give much detail or forecasting about the mess and particularly about traveling to Europe. I imagine it is very difficult to predict.

I am wondering if anyone has found a good source for information about the volcano, ash cloud predictions, and especially about airports.

The Autoimmunity Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia is May 5-9. I am scheduled to fly to Munich May 3 and then take the train to Ljubljana. I am not so worried about coming back. I doubt I can change my flight to anywhere with a better probability since places like Rome or Athens are probably very busy.

Anyway, I will make every effort to get there. I just hope it doesn't diminish the attendance.

Any advice from our European members?

Wesley

I copy below the latest update we received at work. I doubt the disruptions will last till the 3rd of May though hard to tell at the moment.

Please find below an update with regards to European airports closure or planned opening:
U.K: The current restrictions across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 0100hours GMT on Tuesday 20th April.
Austria: Airspace reopened at 0400hrs GMT on 20-Apr
Bulgaria: All airports closed.
Denmark: All airports will be closed until at least 0001hrs on 20-Apr.
Estonia: All airports closed until at least 1300hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Finland: All airports closed until at least 1700hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
France: Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse airports to remain open until at least 1400hrs GMT.
Germany: All airports closed until at least 0100hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Hungary: All airports closed until at least 1100hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Ireland: All airports closed until at least 1300hrs GMT. Ryanair has cancelled all flights to and from Northern Europe until at least 1200hrs GMT on 21-Apr. Air Lingus has cancelled all flights for 19-Apr.
Italy: All Northern airports to remain closed until at least 1900hrs BST. Rome’s Fiumicino airport has not been closed.
Latvia: All airports to remain closed until at least 20-Apr on 20-Apr.
Netherlands: All airports to remain closed until at least 1300hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Norway: Olso airport opened for limited travel.
Poland: All airports to remain closed until at least 0100hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Romania: Bucharest to re-open at 1200hrs GMT on 20-Apr.
Slovakia: All airports closed.
Spain: All airports currently open.
Sweden: All airports closed.
Switzerland: All airports to remain closed until at least 0500hrs GMT on 20-Apr

Prices of rental cars has gone through the roof, and that there is not enough cars avaliable. it is difficult to get train tickets as all the trains are full. I haven't heard anything about road trafic, but I would think a lot of the motorways would be congested. I think petrol prices in Europe is quite a bit higher then in USA (not sure) So if can turn nout to be a very expencive journey for you. I am not sure how it is now, but alot of car rental companies charge ekstra incurance if you want to take the vehicle into the former eastern european countries, so that might add to the cost as well.
I think the european rail network is quite good, and it would probably be your best bet.
Google bus companies and also hitch hiking agencies in europe (they used to be popular a while back) Last one is small fee for the lorry driver, and cheap and safe-ish travel for the passenger, as it is logged and registered that the driver has taken a passenger. Logistic companies could maybe be helpful with this.

Thanks.

It sounds like there might be some opening of airports soon since the test flights have all gone well.

My wife is going with me. We will travel light so we can easily carry everything. We are supposed to fly into Munich and then we have first class tickets for the train to Ljubljana but they don't assign seats until we get to the train station. I have a feeling that train may be full. We'll manage. We have 2 days free before the conference so there is some slack in our schedule.

Wesley

Try the BBC online www.bbc.co.uk then go to news homepage...they are keeping up to date.
I have the feeling it will all be over very soon....airports seem to be opening up.