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UK becomes no-flight zone again UK becomes no-flight zone again
(30 minutes later)
Flights across the whole of the UK have been grounded once again amid forecasts of a worsening threat posed to aircraft by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.Flights across the whole of the UK have been grounded once again amid forecasts of a worsening threat posed to aircraft by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.
Restrictions had been lifted in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday evening but were reapplied overnight.Restrictions had been lifted in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday evening but were reapplied overnight.
At the same time, the continuing ban on flights in England and Wales was extended from 1300 BST until 1900 BST.At the same time, the continuing ban on flights in England and Wales was extended from 1300 BST until 1900 BST.
Officials have warned the knock-on effect of cancellations could disrupt European airspace for several days.Officials have warned the knock-on effect of cancellations could disrupt European airspace for several days.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded in the UK and abroad by flight cancellations.Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded in the UK and abroad by flight cancellations.
'Windows of opportunity''Windows of opportunity'
Restrictions on flights in the UK have been in place since 1200 BST on Thursday because of fears particles in the ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland could shut down plane engines.Restrictions on flights in the UK have been in place since 1200 BST on Thursday because of fears particles in the ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland could shut down plane engines.
Air travel across Europe has been severely affected, with a raft of countries from Belgium to Switzerland completely closing their airspace, while others like Austria, Germany and Poland have enforced partial closures.Air travel across Europe has been severely affected, with a raft of countries from Belgium to Switzerland completely closing their airspace, while others like Austria, Germany and Poland have enforced partial closures.
At 0415 BST, air traffic control body Nats said: "Following the latest information from the Met Office, Nats advises that restrictions across UK-controlled airspace have been extended until at least 1900 (UK time) and that restrictions to Scottish and Manchester airspace have been reapplied until the same time.At 0415 BST, air traffic control body Nats said: "Following the latest information from the Met Office, Nats advises that restrictions across UK-controlled airspace have been extended until at least 1900 (UK time) and that restrictions to Scottish and Manchester airspace have been reapplied until the same time.
As the weekend goes on there is a risk prevailing winds will keep volcanic ash in the air above parts of the UK, and may even bring it back to those parts from which it has cleared Nick MillerBBC weather forecasterAs the weekend goes on there is a risk prevailing winds will keep volcanic ash in the air above parts of the UK, and may even bring it back to those parts from which it has cleared Nick MillerBBC weather forecaster
"Current forecasts show that the situation is worsening throughout Saturday."Current forecasts show that the situation is worsening throughout Saturday.
"We are continuing to look for windows of opportunity to handle individual flights in UK-controlled airspace.""We are continuing to look for windows of opportunity to handle individual flights in UK-controlled airspace."
Manchester and Liverpool airports had been offered a six-hour window - between 0400 BST and 1000 BST - in which to operate some flights, but the changing conditions meant that was later revoked.Manchester and Liverpool airports had been offered a six-hour window - between 0400 BST and 1000 BST - in which to operate some flights, but the changing conditions meant that was later revoked.
BAA said passengers due to fly should not travel to its airports - Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow - but contact their airline for re-ticketing information.
Nats is due to make its next statement at 0900 BST.Nats is due to make its next statement at 0900 BST.
BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said: "As the weekend goes on there is a risk that prevailing winds will keep volcanic ash in the air above parts of the UK, and may even bring it back to those parts from which it has cleared."BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said: "As the weekend goes on there is a risk that prevailing winds will keep volcanic ash in the air above parts of the UK, and may even bring it back to those parts from which it has cleared."
'Significant disruption''Significant disruption'
On Friday, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis warned passengers there was likely to be "significant disruption" for the next 48 hours.On Friday, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis warned passengers there was likely to be "significant disruption" for the next 48 hours.
European air traffic control organisation Eurocontrol said about 60% of flights within Europe had been grounded on Friday, representing about 17,000 services.European air traffic control organisation Eurocontrol said about 60% of flights within Europe had been grounded on Friday, representing about 17,000 services.
More than half of the normal 300 trans-Atlantic flights had also been cancelled and it warned of "significant disruption" of European air traffic on Saturday.More than half of the normal 300 trans-Atlantic flights had also been cancelled and it warned of "significant disruption" of European air traffic on Saturday.
Icelandic Met Office's Matthew Roberts: 'The ash cloud reached 8km high'Icelandic Met Office's Matthew Roberts: 'The ash cloud reached 8km high'
The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (Canso), a global association of air traffic control companies, said the knock-on effect of the cancellations so far would probably disrupt European airspace for several days.The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (Canso), a global association of air traffic control companies, said the knock-on effect of the cancellations so far would probably disrupt European airspace for several days.
"Traffic will have to be reorganised and rerouted and flights re-planned, all on a dynamic and quite unpredictable basis," it said in a statement."Traffic will have to be reorganised and rerouted and flights re-planned, all on a dynamic and quite unpredictable basis," it said in a statement.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • British Airways cancelled all its flights to and from London airports for Friday and Saturday
  • Switzerland said it would close its airspace from midnight (2200 GMT on Friday) and Romania was planning to close its airspace over the north-west from 0300 BST (0000 GMT on Saturday)
  • Ryanair cancelled all flights to and from northern Europe until 1300 BST on Monday. It will keep running in southern and central Europe, although flight restrictions are being imposed in Hungary and Romania
  • The Jet2.com airline cancelled all its flights on Friday and Saturday, adding additional flights for Sunday and Monday
  • P&O Ferries said it had dealt with 30,000 calls on Friday - the most it had dealt with on one day in its history. It said it would be unable to accept any further foot-passenger bookings
  • Eurostar trains reported a complete sell-out of its services to Brussels and Paris for the second day on Friday. It has warned customers without bookings not to go to London's St Pancras station because they will not be able to travel
  • British Airways cancelled all its flights to and from London airports for Friday and Saturday
  • Switzerland said it would close its airspace from midnight (2200 GMT on Friday) and Romania was planning to close its airspace over the north-west from 0300 BST (0000 GMT on Saturday)
  • Ryanair cancelled all flights to and from northern Europe until 1300 BST on Monday. It will keep running in southern and central Europe, although flight restrictions are being imposed in Hungary and Romania
  • The Jet2.com airline cancelled all its flights on Friday and Saturday, adding additional flights for Sunday and Monday
  • P&O Ferries said it had dealt with 30,000 calls on Friday - the most it had dealt with on one day in its history. It said it would be unable to accept any further foot-passenger bookings
  • Eurostar trains reported a complete sell-out of its services to Brussels and Paris for the second day on Friday. It has warned customers without bookings not to go to London's St Pancras station because they will not be able to travel
Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB Eruption site webcam Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological CenterELSEWHERE ON THE WEB Eruption site webcam Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center
The last eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano system that is creating the problems was on 20 March, when a 0.5km-long fissure opened up on the eastern side of the glacier at the Fimmvoerduhals Pass.The last eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano system that is creating the problems was on 20 March, when a 0.5km-long fissure opened up on the eastern side of the glacier at the Fimmvoerduhals Pass.
The eruption prior to that started in 1821 and continued intermittently for more than a year.The eruption prior to that started in 1821 and continued intermittently for more than a year.
Have you been affected by the volcanic ash cloud? Are you stranded because of the airspace restrictions? Are you in Iceland? You can send your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by the volcanic ash cloud? Are you stranded because of the airspace restrictions? Are you in Iceland? You can send your experiences using the form below:
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