This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8627545.stm

The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Passengers face more flight chaos UK enduring further flight chaos
(about 2 hours later)
Passengers face further disruption after flight restrictions were extended until 1900 BST on Sunday as the danger from Icelandic volcanic ash continues. The UK is enduring a fourth day as a virtual no-fly zone, as the travel chaos caused by volcanic ash drifting from Iceland shows no sign of ending.
The National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said earlier forecasts showed the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the UK. Flight restrictions have been extended until at least 1900 BST and forecasters say the ash cloud could remain over the UK for several more days.
British Airways has cancelled all long and short-haul flights in and out of the UK on Sunday. BBC business editor Robert Peston said the disruption risked becoming a "major business and economic disaster".
Officials warn that European airspace could be disrupted for several days. He said a number of European airlines were facing financial difficulties.
Flight restrictions on flights in and out of the UK were extended from 1300 BST to at least 1900 BST in the early hours. Our correspondent said: "If [the disruption] goes on many days longer, a number of European airlines will run into financial difficulties and may need bailing out by governments - or so I am told by senior airline figures."
What worries BA and other airlines is that they have absolutely no idea when they will be able to start flying again Robert Peston's blog
However, he said British Airways would probably be able to weather "this particular storm" longer than most, having indicated in February that it had £4bn of cash and committed borrowing facilities, which would allow it to absorb the losses of being grounded for a time.
On Friday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned airlines would lose at least $200m (£130m) per day in revenues during the disruption.
Meanwhile, Dutch airline KLM and German airline Lufthansa have carried out test flights in their countries' airspace to see if it is safe for planes to fly.
KLM said a Boeing 737 and its engines were being inspected for possible damage, with a view to getting permission from the aviation authorities to start up operations again.
Restrictions on flights in and out of the UK were extended from 1300 BST to at least 1900 BST in the early hours of Sunday.
Lorna Gordon: "There's also a problem of this ash clogging the filters of cars"Lorna Gordon: "There's also a problem of this ash clogging the filters of cars"
Nats head of safety Paul Haskins said: "It's a very dynamic situation at the moment." Planes were first grounded at midday on Thursday amid fears that particles in the ash cloud generated by the volcanic eruption could cause engines to shut down.
The disruption has affected hundreds of thousands of travellers since Wednesday when the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month. National Air Traffic Control Services (Nats) said the ash cloud showed "continued and extensive" cover of the UK.
British wedding guests had to watch a bride and groom stranded in Dubai take their vows over an internet connection. Nats is expected to provide a further update at 0900 BST.
Sean Murtagh, 24, who is originally from west London, and his new wife Natalie, a 30-year-old Australian, were due to host a humanist ceremony for family and friends in London on Saturday but got stuck on their way back from Brisbane. Prof Brian Golding, head of forecasting research at the Met Office, said it looked like the ash would remain over the UK "for several days".
Mr Murtagh said the staff at the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai had become their unofficial wedding planners: "They decorated the lobby of the hotel. They made us a three tier wedding cake, set up a laptop with Skype and a projector...It's been an incredible day." "We need a change of wind direction that stays changed for several days and there is no sign of that in the immediate future," he said.
Meanwhile, one of the UK's biggest fresh fruit importers said business had ground to a halt because of the disruption. A plume of ash 8.5km (5.3 miles) high was visible in Iceland on Saturday.
British glaciologist Dr Matthew Roberts, who is working at Iceland's Met Office, said the volcano was now producing less ash.
"However, there is still volcanic ash in the atmosphere and there's a lag effect between material being emitted from the volcano and the ash plume drifting into European airspace," he said.
EXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights How long will ash last? Travel alternatives Q&A: Volcanic ash cloudEXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights How long will ash last? Travel alternatives Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud
The disruption has affected hundreds of thousands of travellers since Wednesday, when the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting.
Among those affected were British wedding guests who had to watch a bride and groom stranded in Dubai take their vows over an internet connection.
Sean Murtagh, 24, who is originally from west London, and his new wife Natalie, a 30-year-old Australian, had been due to host a humanist ceremony for family and friends in London on Saturday but got stuck on their way back from Brisbane.
Mr Murtagh said the staff at the Millennium Airport Hotel in Dubai had become their unofficial wedding planners, saying: "They decorated the lobby of the hotel. They made us a three-tier wedding cake, set up a laptop with Skype and a projector... it's been an incredible day."
Meanwhile, one of the UK's biggest fresh fruit importers said business had ground to a halt because of the disruption.
Anthony Pile, chairman of Blue Skies, said the company was losing £100,000 a day as produce was rotting in Brazil and Africa.Anthony Pile, chairman of Blue Skies, said the company was losing £100,000 a day as produce was rotting in Brazil and Africa.
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB Eruption site webcam Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center
"Losing a day is a disaster, losing three days is unbelievable and I don't know what we're going to do if we go into the middle of next week," he said."Losing a day is a disaster, losing three days is unbelievable and I don't know what we're going to do if we go into the middle of next week," he said.
A plume of ash 8.5km (5.3 miles) high was visible in Iceland on Saturday. In other developments on Saturday:
Prof Brian Golding, head of forecasting research at the Met Office, said it was likely the volcanic cloud would remain over the UK for several days. • The Prince of Wales and Foreign Secretary David Miliband cancelled their journey to the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski
Runway inspections took place during daylight for the first time at Heathrow • Eurostar added eight extra services on Saturday, but advised passengers not to turn up without a booking
Royal Mail air mail deliveries to the US are being taken over land to be flown from a Spanish airport.
British Airways said it had no insurance against suspending flights and refunding customers as a result of the ash cloud, and would have to absorb the costs itself.
The Ministry of Defence said it was under the same restrictions as for commercial aircraft, except for essential helicopter operations, such as search and rescue, below 3,000ft.
In other developments:
• Eurostar added eight extra services on Saturday, but passengers are advised not to turn up without a booking
• P&O ferry crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao are fully booked until Wednesday, as are those from Hull to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam over the weekend• P&O ferry crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao are fully booked until Wednesday, as are those from Hull to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam over the weekend
• Thomson Airways, the airline for Thomson and First Choice holidays, said all outbound flights over the weekend had been cancelled• Thomson Airways, the airline for Thomson and First Choice holidays, said all outbound flights over the weekend had been cancelled
• Flights between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been halted after reports of ash on an aircraft. They had been operating earlier on Saturday• Flights between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been halted after reports of ash on an aircraft. They had been operating earlier 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• 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
Unable to catch flights, many travellers across northern Europe have sought other means of transport, which has seen people filling trains, buses and ferries. • EasyJet has cancelled all flights to and from northern Europe. It said a limited number of flights will continue to operate in southern Europe
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB class="" href="http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-valahnjuk/">Eruption site webcam class="" href="http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/region.cfm?rnum=17">Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program class="" href="http://www2.norvol.hi.is/page/ies_Eyjafjallajokull_eruption">Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center • British Airways cancelled all long and short-haul flights in and out of the UK on Sunday
The Prince of Wales and Foreign Secretary David Miliband have cancelled their journey to the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski. • Royal Mail air mail deliveries to the US are being taken over land to be flown from a Spanish airport
British glaciologist Dr Matthew Roberts, working at Iceland's Met Office, said the volcano was now producing less ash.
"There haven't been any further significant outbursts of volcanic ash from the eruption site," he said.
"However, there is still volcanic ash in the atmosphere and there's a lag effect between material being emitted from the volcano and the ash plume drifting into European airspace."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office 24-hour consular helpline has been set up on 020 7008 0000 for people stuck abroad.A Foreign and Commonwealth Office 24-hour consular helpline has been set up on 020 7008 0000 for people stuck abroad.
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:
Send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 if you are in the UKor+44 7725 100 100 if you are abroad. If you have a large file you can upload it here. Read the terms and conditions Send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 if you are in the UKor+44 7725 100 100 if you are abroad. If you have a large file you can upload it here. Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions