A volcano erupts near Iceland’s most populated area, spewing flames and lava, not far from the town of Grindavik. Impacts from travel have been minimal so far, but that could change as the eruption continues, especially if ash and smoke become a bigger problem.
Despite the eruption, flights are currently operating normally at Keflavik International Airport (KEF). The U.S. Embassy in Iceland has issued a volcano alert stating, “U.S. citizens are advised to monitor local news and government websites for detailed information and to follow Civil Defense instructions.”
The popular Blue Lagoon is closed due to the volcano and some roads in and out of Rejkyavik are closed to traffic.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the Reykjanes Peninsula, where a series of earthquakes have occurred in the past month. According to a report from the Washington Post, one of the roads to Reykjavik has been closed.
Volcanologists say the eruption could last up to ten days.
There is also a geothermal power plant about a mile from the eruption, which is still remotely controlled.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now?
At this time, the U.S. Embassy in Iceland is not telling Americans to cancel their travel plans. It said: “Airlines will base their decisions on flight operations on ash forecasts and other factors from the Icelandic Met Office and its partners. If you have pending travel plans, please contact your airline or check their website for information.”
The US Embassy advised travelers to:
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When is it good to travel to Iceland?
So far, at least, it seems safe to travel to Iceland, with the caveat that tourists should avoid the affected area and monitor the news closely.
Airlines that allow changes to flights to Iceland
To date, no airlines have issued specific warnings to avoid travel to Iceland or issued travel exemptions. However, some are advising customers to monitor the situation.
Play airline
The Icelandic airline Play Airlines has issued this advice:
“Due to a volcanic eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula on December 18, 2023, roads to Grindavík town and the Blue Lagoon are closed while the situation is assessed. We do not expect any disruptions to our flight schedule, but safety is always our top priority and the situation is being closely monitored by the relevant authorities. We ask all passengers booked on upcoming flights to closely monitor any communications from us regarding a possible disruption to our flight schedule.”
Iceland air
Another Icelandic airline, Icelandair, is also not canceling flights. “At this time the eruption is not impacting our operations or Keflavík Airport. Our flight schedule remains unchanged,” the airline said on its website.
“The safety of our passengers and staff is always our first priority and at the heart of every decision we make. We are closely monitoring the situation and will inform our passengers of any new developments,” Icelandair said.
In short
There is currently a major eruption of a volcano in Iceland. So far there are few travel restrictions, apart from closed areas near the eruption site, but that could change quickly.
If you have a trip planned to Iceland, keep a close eye on the news and contact your airline or hotel if you have a trip planned in the coming days and weeks.
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