Global General

Portugal cancels 1,900-plus flights due to volcanic ash

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-23 09:25
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LISBON: The Airports of Portugal (ANA) reported on Thursday that more than 1,900 flights have been canceled and 242,000 passengers stranded since April 15 due to the ash cloud resulting in the eruption of a volcano in Iceland.

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In a statement, the ANA said the cancellation of the 1,900-plus flights has cost the airlines some 2.5 million euros (about 3.35 million US dollars) in losses.

The ANA decided to cancel all flights next day after the ash cloud entered the Portuguese airspace on April 13.

The most affected airport in the country was the Lisbon airport where 821 flights, including 416 departures and 405 arrivals, have been canceled.

The ANA said the most difficult day was on April 19 when a total of 35,620 passengers were stranded in the country's airports.