Another Icelandic ash cloud set to hit UK

An ash cloud from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland is predicted to hit the UK in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the MET office has said, spreading to other parts of the UK toward the end of the week.

However a MET office spokesperson said that as the weather is more changeable this year than last, the effect of the cloud on the UK is still uncertain.

The eruption comes just over a year since the Eyjafjallajokull volcano also in Iceland erupted a plume of ash, causing widespread airport closures and travel disruption across the UK.

At the time hotels across the UK saw occupancy reduced as bookings were cancelled, although those situated near the airports saw business boom as they struggled to house thousands of stranded passengers.

From April to July 2010 hotels at Heathrow and Gatwick airports saw respective 68.6 per cent and 42.3 per cent increases in revPAR, despite many hoteliers resisting the urge to increase their prices during the period.

Restaurants situated at airports however didn’t fare so well, with Frankie & Benny’s operator the Restaurant Group claiming the ash cloud caused them to lose £500k worth of trade.

Prepare​

Now as another ash cloud looks set to descend upon the UK, hospitality operators are urged to prepare for the worst.

A statement issued by the MET office said: “As the volcanic advisory centre for the northwest of Europe region the met office is working closely with colleagues in the Icelandic meterological office and the British Geological Survey to monitor the eruption and provide guidance on the movement of the ash plume.

“The movement of the ash plume will depend on how long the volcano continues to erupt and how weather patterns develop. Currently if the volcano continues to erupt to the same level, the UK could be at risk of volcanic ash later this week. Please contact Nat or CAA for information about UK airspace.”