On 15 April, at 8 pm, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency decided to close air space over the Northern part of Poland. The situation was caused by an eruption of a volcano in Iceland near the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier and clouds of volcanic ash. The wafting plume of volcanic ash limits visibility and poses a threat to aircraft.

The air space over this part of Poland was closed and reopened several times, depending on the location of the cloud. Airports all over Europe struggled with the same problem.

Cancelled flights mean losses for the airport in Goleniów which will not be able to collect its fees. Cancelled flights also translate into lower turnover of airport shops and restaurants.

“We carefully calculated losses. They reached about 350 thousand zlotys”, says Krzysztof Domagalski, spokesman of the airport. “Passengers of cancelled flights were offered different days and times of departures.  If they did not accept the offer, we helped them make a complaint to the carriers,” he adds.

Cancellation of flights due to volcanic ash has been unprecedented in the history of the Goleniów airport.

mab