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/northern_ireland/8631298.stm

The article has changed 34 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New ash cloud threat to flights New ash cloud threat to flights
(20 minutes later)
A new volcanic ash cloud spreading towards the UK has cast doubt on plans to reopen airspace on Tuesday morning.A new volcanic ash cloud spreading towards the UK has cast doubt on plans to reopen airspace on Tuesday morning.
NI airspace was scheduled to reopen at 0700 BST. Some flights from Belfast City Airport are due to resume. NI airspace had been scheduled to reopen at 0700 BST. Some flights from Belfast City Airport are due to resume.
But a spokesman for the International Airport said the situation was "uncertain and dynamic" and flights would be cancelled until lunch-time.But a spokesman for the International Airport said the situation was "uncertain and dynamic" and flights would be cancelled until lunch-time.
"Bar the activity to the Isle of Man, we expect to have nothing before lunch-time," Uel Hoey said."Bar the activity to the Isle of Man, we expect to have nothing before lunch-time," Uel Hoey said.
"We continue to advise customers to refer to their airline's website.""We continue to advise customers to refer to their airline's website."
Mr Hoey said there would be an update at 0900 BST.Mr Hoey said there would be an update at 0900 BST.
The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK. The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and the new cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK.
Earlier on Monday, the air traffic contol body, Nats, had said that Northern Ireland airspace would reopen from 0700 BST on Tuesday. The air traffic contol body, Nats, said the situation was "dynamic and rapidly changing".
Nats said its latest statement demonstrated "the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working". The outlook for Northern Ireland is most uncertain, it said.
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. Scottish airports are expected to reopen from 0700 BST, and Nats said it would report again at 0900 BST.
Nats said more airspace over England was expected to become available from 1300 BST although not as far south as London's main airports.
EXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Travel latest
This is the sixth day of flight cancellations across the UK.This is the sixth day of flight cancellations across the UK.
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 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) had said no commercial flights will leave Ireland before 1300 BST 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 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.
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".
The Met Office is keeping Nats up to date with the latest situation.
'Contingency plans'
Thousands of passengers remain stranded with planes grounded across Europe.Thousands of passengers remain stranded with planes grounded across Europe.
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. Flybe cancelled all flights due to operate on Monday. Its first flight on Tuesday from George Best Belfast City Airport is scheduled to depart as usual.
Isle of Man airspace reopened at 1300 BST on Monday. EasyJet said flights to and from Northern Europe, including UK flights, would be cancelled until 1800 BST on Tuesday.
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. Aer Lingus said flights scheduled for Tuesday looked extremely unlikely to go ahead.
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 had said its first flight on Tuesday from George Best Belfast City Airport was scheduled to depart from after 1000 BST, but it would continue to monitor the situation.
EasyJet said flights to and from Northern Europe, including UK flights, would be cancelled until 1300 BST 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.
Before the latest Nats statement, Aer Lingus had said 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 had aimed to operate the majority of its European schedule after 1300 BST and said 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.
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".
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.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.
Earlier on Monday, Aer Arann had said its flights from Dublin to City of Derry Airport were scheduled to operate on Tuesday. Aer Arann said 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 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.
Gordon Brown said Royal Navy ships would be deployed to bring home some of the estimated 150,000 Britons stranded abroad, including British troops heading home from Afghanistan.
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.
Cost
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".
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".
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.
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.
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.