Airlines are cancelling flights to and from Buenos Aires following a warning from Argentinean authorities that the ash cloud produced by Chile's erupting Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle volcano range has changed direction and is heading towards Argentina's capital.
On 6 June, the Argentinean secretary of transport's Crisis Committee said the cloud had reached an altitude of up to 12,000m (39,370ft) and would reach Buenos Aires the following morning.
Airlines have been cancelling flights both at Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport and the Aeroparque downtown airport.
A local Ezeiza airport source said: "The last flight was operated at 02:00 [local time]. Aerolineas [Argentinas] has cancelled all flights until 10:00 local time."
TAM and Gol have also cancelled all flights to the area, while a number of inbound intercontinental flights have either been cancelled or diverted to other airports.
Argentina closed down most of its Patagonian airspace after the volcano range started erupting on 4 June. The range is located in Chile, close to the Argentinean border near Bariloche, and is one of the most active groups of volcanoes in the world.
Many of the Patagonian airports will remain closed at least for the rest of the week beginning 6 June after being covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
