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"Qantas says it will not take any new bookings for flights to Europe until mid-May as it tries to clear a backlog of passengers stranded because of volcanic ash in the atmosphere. Qantas has grounded a succession of long-haul flights to London and Frankfurt, and today it cancelled more services due to leave Australia on Wednesday and Thursday. Its flights from Europe to Asian destinations have been cancelled for the next two days. About 15,000 Qantas customers have been affected by the delays caused by the eruption of the Eyjafjoell volcano in Iceland on Wednesday. The airline, which says the stoppage is costing it $1.5 million a day, held a crisis management meeting today after another burst of volcanic activity created a new ash cloud that is spreading toward Britain. Qantas executive David Epstein said there was no point sending flights from Australia and taking a gamble that the situation would improve during the journey. &quot;We don&apos;t fly taking chance,&quot; he said. &quot;We put safety before schedule, and this is a particular issue for long-haul carriers who are dealing with long flight times, long distances and multiple jurisdictions.&quot; Qantas is also seeking clarification of a decision by air traffic control group Eurocontrol to gradually open airspace over the European continent. Airlines are expected to slowly return to the skies in designated zones, where the threat from ash being spewed by the volcano is less dangerous. Mr Epstein said the circumstances were different for some European carriers, which are flying short haul, point-to-point services in areas that have not been affected by the ash cloud. Qantas was looking at operating extra flights once European airspace was given the all-clear, but people may be waiting weeks to get a seat, he said. &quot;At this time, there is no new or additional seat availability on services to Europe until mid-May.&quot; The volcano has thrown into chaos the travel plans of thousands of Australians, including those who hoped to attend Anzac Services in Turkey on Sunday, and is costing the global aviation industry $US200 million ($216.24 million) a day. Australian rock band Powderfinger today postponed its US and Ireland farewell tour, which was due to start in Dublin tomorrow. The Aussie band, currently in Brisbane, now plans to play in the Irish capital on May 31. Mining giant Rio Tinto delayed its Australian general meeting by more than a month after the company&apos;s chairman, chief executive and directors were unable to make the journey from London to Melbourne by Thursday. They have rescheduled the event for May 26. Low-cost airline AirAsia, which operates in Australia, today said it expected to resume services from Kuala Lumpur to London&apos;s Stansted Airport tomorrow. &quot;Hopefully, the situation will continue to improve and there will be no adverse changes,&quot; general manager Australia Darren Wright said. However, British officials are concerned about the treatment of passengers stranded in Australia. The British High Commissioner to Australia, Valerie Amos, said some airlines were leaving customers to fend for themselves. &quot;We are concerned about the response from some of the airlines, and we&apos;ll be taking that up, obviously, with the airlines,&quot; she said."
<https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/no-new-qantas-bookings-until-mid-may-ng-ya-215159>