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Nats says NI airspace to reopen NI flights situation 'uncertain'
(30 minutes later)
Air traffic control body Nats has confirmed that Northern Ireland airspace will reopen from 0700 BST on Tuesday. There are new doubts about the planned opening of the Northern Ireland airspace on Tuesday morning.
The move is in line with the lifting of restrictions on Scottish airspace, although the decision is subject to change, depending on the ash cloud. The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK.
The air traffic control body Nats said the situation for Northern Irish airports was uncertain.
Earlier on Monday, Nats had said that Northern Ireland airspace would reopen from 0700 BST on Tuesday.
Nats said its latest statement demonstrated "the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working".
It said the latest information showed Scottish airports should be available from 0700 BST and more airspace over England may become available from 1300 BST although not as far south as the main London airports.
Flights to and from NI were cancelled for a fifth day on Monday.Flights to and from NI were cancelled for a fifth day on Monday.
From 0700 BST restrictions will be lifted in Scotland, NI and south to Teeside and Blackpool in England.
It is estimated 120,000 passengers have been affected by the closure of Northern Ireland airspace.It is estimated 120,000 passengers have been affected by the closure of Northern Ireland airspace.
Nats said restrictions across the rest of England and Wales may be lifted later on Tuesday and that it was up to airports and airlines to decide "how best to utilise this opportunity". Nats had said restrictions across the rest of England and Wales may be lifted later on Tuesday and that it was up to airports and airlines to decide "how best to utilise this opportunity".
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has said some flights are expected to operate out of Irish airports on Tuesday. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) had said some flights were expected to operate out of Irish airports on Tuesday.
It said some flights would start to operate from 0500 BST, but the authority stressed that it would not be a return to full service. It said some flights would start to operate from 0500 BST, but the authority had stressed that it would not be a return to full service.
Earlier, IAA Chief Executive Eamon Brennan, had said he did not expect flights to return to normal until Friday, due to the scale of the backlogs and the dispersal of aircraft and airline crews.Earlier, IAA Chief Executive Eamon Brennan, had said he did not expect flights to return to normal until Friday, due to the scale of the backlogs and the dispersal of aircraft and airline crews.
The volcanic eruption in Iceland had abated for a time on Monday morning, but the Met Office said on Monday afternoon the ash emissions had increased once again.The volcanic eruption in Iceland had abated for a time on Monday morning, but the Met Office said on Monday afternoon the ash emissions had increased once again.
Although this is not back to the initial maximum height of 30,000 feet, the spokesman said the unpredictable nature of the volcano's activity meant that there was still "cause for concern".Although this is not back to the initial maximum height of 30,000 feet, the spokesman said the unpredictable nature of the volcano's activity meant that there was still "cause for concern".
The Met Office is keeping Nats up to date with the latest situation.The Met Office is keeping Nats up to date with the latest situation.
'Contingency plans''Contingency plans'
Thousands of passengers remain stranded with planes grounded across Europe.Thousands of passengers remain stranded with planes grounded across Europe.
However, Germany, France and Belgium have said they will also begin to reopen airspace from Tuesday.However, Germany, France and Belgium have said they will also begin to reopen airspace from Tuesday.
EU transport ministers held emergency talks on Monday to try and ease the paralysis of air travel in Europe caused by the volcanic cloud.EU transport ministers held emergency talks on Monday to try and ease the paralysis of air travel in Europe caused by the volcanic cloud.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said "contingency plans" were being put in place to get as many people through airports "as fast as possible" if the travel restrictions were lifted.Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said "contingency plans" were being put in place to get as many people through airports "as fast as possible" if the travel restrictions were lifted.
Isle of Man airspace reopened at 1300 BST on Monday.Isle of Man airspace reopened at 1300 BST on Monday.
Two 19-seater Manx2 airplanes were scheduled to depart to Belfast. Manx2 planes fly at a lower level to other aircrafts and operated over the weekend.Two 19-seater Manx2 airplanes were scheduled to depart to Belfast. Manx2 planes fly at a lower level to other aircrafts and operated over the weekend.
Flybe cancelled all flights due to operate on Monday. It has scheduled flights between Belfast and Scotland, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne for Tuesday, but as ever passengers should contact airlines before travelling to any airport. Flybe cancelled all flights due to operate on Monday. It scheduled flights between Belfast and Scotland, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne for Tuesday, but said as ever passengers should contact airlines before travelling to any airport.
It said its first flight on Tuesday from George Best Belfast City Airport was scheduled to leave after 1000 BST. It had said its first flight on Tuesday from George Best Belfast City Airport was scheduled to leave after 1000 BST.
Brian Ambrose of Belfast City Airport said he expected a "phased reintroduction" of flights on Tuesday. Brian Ambrose of Belfast City Airport had said he expected a "phased reintroduction" of flights on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Belfast International Airport said its "best advice" remained for passengers to refer directly to airline websites before deciding to travel to the airport.A spokesman for Belfast International Airport said its "best advice" remained for passengers to refer directly to airline websites before deciding to travel to the airport.
Aer Lingus has confirmed all flights from Belfast, Dublin and Cork to Spain, Portugal and Italy with a scheduled departure time up to 1300 BST will operate as scheduled on Tuesday. Aer Lingus had confirmed all flights from Belfast, Dublin and Cork to Spain, Portugal and Italy with a scheduled departure time up to 1300 BST would operate as scheduled on Tuesday.
It said it aimed to operate the majority of its European schedule after 1300 BST and the status of these flights would be confirmed on its website.It said it aimed to operate the majority of its European schedule after 1300 BST and the status of these flights would be confirmed on its website.
All its flights from Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Knock, and Shannon to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester with a scheduled departure time up to 1300 BST on Tuesday have been cancelled. It said operations on these services after this time were under review and would be confirmed on its website.All its flights from Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Knock, and Shannon to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester with a scheduled departure time up to 1300 BST on Tuesday have been cancelled. It said operations on these services after this time were under review and would be confirmed on its website.
Ryanair has cancelled all scheduled flights to and from the UK and Ireland until 1300 BST on Wednesday.Ryanair has cancelled all scheduled flights to and from the UK and Ireland until 1300 BST on Wednesday.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary, said he hoped to get flights going again "by lunchtime Wednesday" and clear the backlog "within a day or two".Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary, said he hoped to get flights going again "by lunchtime Wednesday" and clear the backlog "within a day or two".
BMI flights are cancelled until 1300 BST, while Jet2 and Thomson flights will continue to be cancelled until Thursday at least. Passengers are advised to check airline websites for updates. BMI flights are cancelled until at least 1300 BST, while Jet2 and Thomson flights will continue to be cancelled until Thursday at least. Passengers are advised to check airline websites for updates.
Aer Arann has confirmed that all its flights from Dublin to City of Derry Airport are scheduled to operate on Tuesday. Aer Arann had said all its flights from Dublin to City of Derry Airport were scheduled to operate on Tuesday.
EXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Travel latestEXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Travel latest
The move to ease airspace restrictions was announced after the UK's emergency committee Cobra met to discuss options in addressing travel chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud.The move to ease airspace restrictions was announced after the UK's emergency committee Cobra met to discuss options in addressing travel chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said his government is holding talks with ferry and shipping companies to review the capacities available to bring home Irish residents who are stranded abroad.Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said his government is holding talks with ferry and shipping companies to review the capacities available to bring home Irish residents who are stranded abroad.
CostCost
More than 6.8m passengers have been affected so far and 63,000 flights have been cancelled since Thursday.More than 6.8m passengers have been affected so far and 63,000 flights have been cancelled since Thursday.
According to the Association of British Travel Agents, about 150,000 people are still stranded.According to the Association of British Travel Agents, about 150,000 people are still stranded.
Stena Line said that since air space restrictions began on Thursday it had carried 55,000 passengers across its five Irish Sea routes - an additional 30,000 passengers more than it "would normally expect at this time of year".Stena Line said that since air space restrictions began on Thursday it had carried 55,000 passengers across its five Irish Sea routes - an additional 30,000 passengers more than it "would normally expect at this time of year".
Airports and airlines have questioned the need for curbs said to be costing airlines alone $200m (£130m) a day.Airports and airlines have questioned the need for curbs said to be costing airlines alone $200m (£130m) a day.
Two groups representing European airport operators and airlines have demanded "an immediate reassessment of flight restrictions".Two groups representing European airport operators and airlines have demanded "an immediate reassessment of flight restrictions".
British Airways is among several airlines which have now carried out test flights without incident.British Airways is among several airlines which have now carried out test flights without incident.
However, a Met Office plane did encounter dangerous levels of ash.However, a Met Office plane did encounter dangerous levels of ash.
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.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.
"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 added."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 added.
Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano system 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 from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano system could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.