Asia-Pacific

Chilean volcano ash cloud returns to blanket NZ

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-22 14:12

WELLINGTON - Air travel chaos returned to New Zealand Wednesday as the ash cloud from Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle drifted back over the country on its second circuit of the globe.

As flights resumed in Australia, the ash cloud looked set to linger over much of New Zealand, grounding many air travelers again.

Qantas and its budget subsidiary, Jetstar, canceled their New Zealand flights Wednesday, and Pacific Blue canceled flights later in the day.

Air New Zealand said it was constantly reviewing its services, but had made no changes to its schedules.

New Zealand Civil Aviation's manager of meteorology Peter Lechner told the New Zealand Press Association Wednesday that the cloud would cover the country late Wednesday and hover at around 6, 100 meters.

Lechner said the ash could take two to three days to pass and might do a third lap of the world.

The volcano began erupting on June 4 and the ash cloud caused massive disruption to New Zealand aviation last week. Many airlines are still trying to clear passenger backlogs.