adventuredays

We are set to depart in five days for our Turkish adventure. According to news reports, the current airport closures are not affecting Turkey, but are affecting Italy. Is anyone able to venture a guess as to whether or not Turkey will be spared? I know this is difficult to predict. We are debating rescheduling our trip. I would be grateful for others opinions.

Thanks so much!

alanRow

According to the news Turkish airspace is still open. Whether that means your flight will be able to get to Turkey is another question as the no-fly zone is between the US and Turkey.

Have you seen what your airline is saying or have you checked what is happening / happened to the same flight over the past few days or for the next few days

WWanderer

I think it's, as the other responder said, a matter of the route your flight would take and whether it would have to go through an area of ash. Remember the "great circle"? I.e., the world isn't flat, and your flight may go straight through central Europe.

dkerr99

I'm in Istanbul now. The airport is open and active - but anything touching Europe is largely cancelled. There are some flights getting to Italy, Greece, Spain and I think Russia. Middle east, Africa and Asia wide open. Where are you coming from? Thats likely more the issue.

Ronda

This is a really cool map. It shows the volcanic cloud and which countries it is covering. Turkey is open but if your flight is not direct, you may have a problem:

http://www.radarvirtuel.com/

Doesn't work well with windows but try it a couple of times if it doesn't work right away.

Ronda

Course, if it keeps spewing ash and smoke, may not clear up for some time.

adventuredays

Thank you, all of you, for your comments and suggestions. We are flying from NY. At alanRow's advice, I had a look at the Delta website and found that today's flight took off on schedule. The flight plan shown goes right over the English Channel, and over France, Germany, Austria and Italy. I'm assuming that this flight will be rerouted to a more southerly route. Unfortunately, the airlines aren't forthcoming with information on flight routes for security reasons.

I'll keep an eye on the situation. I suppose at this point, it's a "keep your fingers crossed" situation.

Thanks again!

zinfanatic

Adventuredays, Thanks for asking this question! We are leaving on Thursday April 29. I did the same thing and looked up the Delta flight from JFK. Heres hoping we both make it to Turkey on schedule. Hope you have travel insurance!

adventuredays

Hi Zinfanatic:

Good luck to you too! We do have travel insurance, and natural disasters are covered, but the airline must cancel the flight first. Frankly, I'm a bit anxious about getting on a flight at the moment but have hopes that by Saturday things will be looking up. I just checked Delta 72-it's boarding at the moment and on time. Please let me know if you discover anything further. I'll do the same.

Enjoy!

northie

flights from Oz to Turkey are still going!!!!

zinfanatic

Here is another good link that is tracking the skies over Europe!http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...s-graphic.html

adventuredays

I've seen that link, I feel as if I click on it every hour! It looks as if the ash is becoming more prominent in Turkey, even though the airport seems unaffected (IST). The map seems particularly ominious around Cappodocia-an area we plan to visit next week.

adventuredays

Here is what the company that runs IST is saying on their website:

Today is the 5th day of the flight cancellations from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to north and middle European countries due to the dispersion of the ash cloud caused by an erupting volcano in Iceland.
The ash cloud caused by an erupting volcano in Iceland has been causing interruptions in air traffic and flight cancellations mainly in Northern Europe. Air space in many Northern European countries has been closed. However, news has been received that the air space in some countries such as Germany will be opened.

The General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) announced on 19th April 2010 that the air space of Turkey does not need to be closed; takeoffs and landings are being orchestrated through altitude arrangements and route alterations. The air spaces of Istanbul Ataturk, Ankara Esenboga, Izmir Adnan Menderes and Antalya Gazipasa Airports in Turkey and the airports in Georgia, Macedonia and Tunisia operated by TAV Airports Holding are also open.

A 26% increase has been recorded in the number of International Departing passengers between April 1-11, 2010 at Istanbul Ataturk Airport operated by TAV Airports Holding Co., compared to the same period of last year. After that date, due to negative impacts caused by the ash cloud and the closure of air space in some countries, nearly 600 flights were cancelled and nearly 1.350 flights were realized between April 15-18, 2010 in International Arrivals and Departures flights.

As TAV Airports Holding, we have initiated the distribution of provisions to meet the basic food and sheltering needs of stranded passengers through our affiliate company BTA Catering Services. Additionally, some of the stranded passengers are being accomodated at the Airport Hotel next to the Airport.

You can monitor the recent developments regarding the matter via the link below, in addition please contact with your airline company before you come to the airport.

zinfanatic

Adveturedays,

Thanks for copying the info from IST. We are right behind you in our travels! We will be in Cappodocia from May 1-5 ! Hope all the smoke doesn't affect our travels too much.I think I will e-mail the travel agent we hired in Cappodocia and ask a few questions. I Will let you know if I find out anything. Zin

adventuredays

Thanks, Zin. Things look immensely better on the map referenced above. I emailed our hotel in Cappodocia this morning. They said that all is well there. There is no sign of ash and no related troubles. We are set to depart on Saturday and I can't wait. I am finally allowing myself to get excited! I hope you enjoy your trip.

otherchelebi

THY started flying from London to Turkey today. We managed to find seats for the Thursday 10:30PM flight to Istanbul. According to the news in UK and Turkey, today, things are getting back to normal.

The only problem for us will be driving from Marks Tey, near Stansted airport to Heathrow, which will not be fun and returning the Hertz car, which may be as hard.