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 27 Version 28
No more flights to leave Tuesday NI holidaymakers on flight return
(40 minutes later)
Belfast International and City airports have said no more flights will leave on Tuesday, as restrictions on UK airspace are lifted. The first set of stranded NI holidaymakers are due to arrive back on a flight into Belfast.
It was announced on Tuesday evening that restrictions on UK airspace would be eased from 2200 BST. Belfast International Airport said it was expecting a scheduled Thomas Cook flight from Lanzarote to arrive at about 2230 BST on Tuesday night.
A second Thomas Cook flight from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt is expected to arrive after midnight.
Uel Hoey from Belfast International Airport said he hoped some outbound flights would resume on Wednesday.
George Best Belfast City Airport has said it will not resume operations until it reviews the situation on Wednesday morning.George Best Belfast City Airport has said it will not resume operations until it reviews the situation on Wednesday morning.
Belfast International said it was continuing to monitor the situation. It follows the earlier announcement on Tuesday evening that restrictions on UK airspace had been eased from 2200 BST.
An airport spokesperson said he hoped its first scheduled flight would arrive at the airport at 2230 BST on Tuesday night from Lanzarote. Belfast International and City airports have said no more flights will leave on Tuesday.
He said he hoped some flights would depart from the airport on Wednesday morning and that passengers should continue to check with airline websites. A Belfast International spokesman said he hoped some flights would depart from the airport on Wednesday morning and that passengers should continue to check with airline websites.
Some flights were able to leave Belfast City Airport on Tuesday morning, before the flight window was closed at 1300 BST.
The International said airlines had advised them there would be no flights leaving before Wednesday morning.
"Ultimately the decision to operate rests with each airline under guidance from the Met Office and NATS," said an airport spokesperson.
"So our best advice remains for intending passengers to refer directly to airline websites."
The Civil Aviation Authority announced new guidelines on Tuesday evening saying there would be a gradual reintroduction of flights in UK airspace from 2200 BST.The Civil Aviation Authority announced new guidelines on Tuesday evening saying there would be a gradual reintroduction of flights in UK airspace from 2200 BST.
A CAA spokeswoman said some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain. She said the decision had been taken after consultation with the Irish aviation authorities.A CAA spokeswoman said some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain. She said the decision had been taken after consultation with the Irish aviation authorities.
Lord Adonis said after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.Lord Adonis said after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.
At 1500 BST, Nats had said based on the latest Met Office information, parts of Scottish and NI airspace would open from 1900 BST to 0100 BST on Wednesday.
It said restrictions would remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.
Nats also allowed for "overflights" - flights that pass over UK airspace at an altitude above 20,000 feet - allowing for many flights between Europe and the Middle East and North America.
It will also allow flights between open airports in Scotland and northern England, and those open in mainland Europe.
The volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and the new cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK. The eruption had abated for a time on Monday morning.
Nats, said the situation was "dynamic and rapidly changing".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said airports were "taking advantage of the window of opportunity" as the impact of the volcano ash cloud temporarily lessened, but stressed that passenger safety would remain "paramount".
Stranded
He added: "In the meantime I think it's important that everybody knows that if they can get to a Channel port we can get them across from Europe to the United Kingdom."
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.
Thousands of passengers have been stranded with planes grounded across Europe.Thousands of passengers have been stranded with planes grounded across Europe.
Ryanair have said all flights between the UK and Ireland have been cancelled until 1300 BST on Friday.
A statement from the company said this was to allow for extra flights from the UK and Ireland to continental Europe on Thursday.
This would allow passengers to get to mainland Europe and make their return journeys via road, rail or ferry. Onward travel from Madrid will be at each passenger's own expense.
Flybe did operate a limited service to some Scottish airports from Belfast City. But flights for the rest of the day are cancelled.
EasyJet said flights to and from Northern Europe, including UK flights, would be cancelled until 1800 BST 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
Aer Lingus said all flights scheduled for Tuesday are cancelled.
Jet2 and Thomson flights will continue to be cancelled until Thursday at least. Passengers are advised to check airline websites for updates.
Aer Arann said its flights from Dublin to City of Derry Airport are cancelled.
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.
Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull 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 Eyjafjallajokull volcano system could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.