A traveller gets help from an Air Canada staffer at the Calgary airport on Thursday. (Terri Trembath/CBC)

Calgarians flying to London and Paris are scrambling to make alternative plans as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupts European airports.

Four flights between the Calgary International Airport and Paris or London on Thursday have been cancelled.

Jason Dixon arrived at the Calgary airport on Thursday morning only to learn that his flight to London had been called off.

"I just wanted to go see a soccer game before I died," said Dixon, who took the cancellation in stride. "We were going to see the Liverpool game soccer match and then go to Copenhagen — big holiday plans.

"It's pretty frustrating, but maybe next year."

A volcano buried under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier spewed steam and ash into the air on Wednesday.

Aviation officials closed airspace and grounded planes in Europe because the gritty, acidic volcanic ash can seriously damage aircraft, including killing engines.

The impact of closing major airports like London's Heathrow Airport rippled across European and Canadian hubs.

'Wait and see'

Air Canada said it's cancelled all flights to and from Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and the Frankfurt airport until further notice. Air Transat has called off all of its flights to Heathrow.

Calgary travel agent Lesley Keyter is advising all of her clients heading to Europe to check frequently with their airline's website for updates.

"For those passengers who've got travel insurance, they're OK because insurance we offer to all of our people does specifically cover delays due to volcanoes," she said.

Kevan Welliver, who was supposed to embark on a dream trip to Egypt, is crossing his fingers that several connecting flights will work out somehow.

"We'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings," he said.

With files from The Canadian Press