U.S. airlines cancel Mexico City flights due to volcano

MEXICO CITY – At least six U.S. airlines canceled 47 flights into and out of the Mexico City and Toluca airports Thursday after the Popocatepetl volcano spewed ash, steam and glowing rocks, airport officials said.

A Mexico City airport spokesman said U.S. Airways, Delta, United, American and Alaska Airlines canceled the flights as a precaution. But he said the airport otherwise continues to operate normally and that by Thursday afternoon no ash had reached the area, about 40 miles northwest from the volcano.

Gomez said that among the routes affected by the cancelations were flights to Houston, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles.

At nearby Toluca airport, Spirit Airlines canceled flights from Dallas and Fort Lauderdale, a spokesman said.

An iconic backdrop to Mexico City’s skyline on clear days, the 17,886-foot volcano sits roughly halfway between Mexico City and Puebla.