SYDNEY (AFP) ? Thousands of airline passengers faced a third day of delays in Australia on Tuesday as the ash cloud from Chile's volcanic eruptions continued to cause havoc.
Qantas and Jetstar have lifted a ban on flights to and from Melbourne but services by the two airlines in and out of the southern island of Tasmania and New Zealand remain grounded.
Flights to Adelaide by Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger were also grounded Tuesday with a review on the situation later expected in the day.
"Qantas will continue to monitor the movement of the ash cloud and assess its impact on flight operations as the situation develops," the airline said in a statement.
"The Qantas Group's approach to flying is based on the highest standards of safety and risk assessment. Safety is always put before schedule."
While Qantas continues to take a conservative approach, Virgin has resumed normal flights to Melbourne, Tasmania and New Zealand with its planes flying around or under the ash plume.
They are also flying in and out of Adelaide, as are international services by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
"Additional flights will be implemented between Sydney and Melbourne and Melbourne and Hobart to carry impacted guests,' Virgin said.
Air New Zealand's domestic and trans-Tasman flights continue to operate to schedule.
"By adjusting cruising altitudes of our aircraft we are able to continue to safely deliver customers to their destinations," Air New Zealand said.
Strong winds have carried the ash more than half way around the world, over the southern Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans to Australia and as far as New Zealand since Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted over a week ago.
Andrew Tupper, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre head, warned the crisis was not yet over.
"I think it's fair to say there will be more disruption, so that's the bit of bad news," he told ABC radio, adding that while the ash was heading back to South America, it could return to Australia.
"It has been known to do a double lap in the past," he said.
The flight disruptions have affected an estimated 60,000 travellers.
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