Volcano in Chile grounds flights across the globe
Qantas has cancelled all its flights in and out of Melbourne and Auckland because of ash from the volcano in Chile drifting over the Pacific Ocean.
The airline has already cancelled flights to and from Tasmania and parts of New Zealand, and they are not the only carrier to cancel flights in the region.
Strong winds have carried fine particles of ash from the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle volcano - which has been erupting for more than a week - to southern New Zealand and Australia at between 20,000 and 35,000ft.
As well as Auckland and Melbourne, all its flights in and out of Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington have also been cancelled.
Qantas said about 8,000 passengers would be affected by its cancellations, while Virgin Australia has so far also cancelled 34 domestic flights and one international flight out of Melbourne.
Low-cost airline Jetstar has also cancelled flights within New Zealand and flights from New Zealand to Australia and from Tasmania to the rest of Australia.
Passengers at Tasmania's Hobart airport told ABC news they might be stuck on the island for several days. Ferries from Tasmania to Australia's mainland are booked up for at least two days.
Air New Zealand said it had not cancelled any flights, but was adjusting flight paths to steer aircraft below the ash.
New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority warned that the ash was expected to be detected at the cruising level of aircraft but had not yet been seen below 20,000ft.
According to the BBC, Air New Zealand said in a statement: 'Given that the volcanic activity is continuing, it is expected that New Zealand airspace may be affected by these plumes for at least a week.'
The volcano has already caused severe disruption to flights in South America, with planes grounded for several days in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
It is the first serious eruption of the volcano chain since 1960, when the area was hit by a massive earthquake.
See amazing pictures of the Chilean volcano below:
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