NZ flights could face delays from ash

The drifting ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Chile continued to disrupt air traffic Monday amid safety concerns, though a limited number of flights did resume in Australia.More than 60,000 passengers were stranded in Australia and New Zealand Sunday and Monday as flights were canceled. Many Australians who had gone away for the long weekend Monday marked the official Queen's Birthday holiday in most states were unable to return. Further delays were expected, with Qantas Airways and Tiger Airways Australia canceling flights to Perth and Adelaide Monday afternoon as the ash cloud moved west over western Australia.

The volcano is still erupting so it's not 'this is it, it is all over,said Bill Sommer, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.We will continue to monitor it until the volcano stops erupting and the ash cloud has dissipated and we can be certain there are no safety problems.Tiger Airways Australia estimates around 5,000 passengers were affected by the cancellation of about 30 flights, while a Qantas spokesman said around 20,000 passengers on Qantas and another 25,000 on its low-cost Jetstar had flights canceled. Around 10,000 passengers were left stranded by cancellation of Virgin Australia flights. Emirates also canceled some flights Sunday.

Qantas canceled flights Monday to Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Tasmania and New Zealand because of the ash cloud, though it did resume flights into Melbourne Monday afternoon."Qantas will continue to monitor the movement of the ash cloud and assess its impact on flight operations,the airline said in a statement.Virgin Australia had begun flying into several airports earlier Monday. Air New Zealand said it continued to operate all its flights but has altered flight paths and cruising altitudes to avoid the ash.The extra distance involved required the use of 10% more fuel, but has meant customers were able to safely get to where they needed to go, said David Morgan, Air New Zealand's chief pilot and general manager for airline operations and safety.The ash cloud, which drifted from South America after the Puyehue volcano in Chile erupted, also caused Argentina's two largest airports to suspend flights Sunday.