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| Ash cloud closes all NI airspace | Ash cloud closes all NI airspace |
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| Northern Ireland airspace is closed until at least 1300 BST on Tuesday due to volcanic ash drifting from Iceland, the Civil Aviation Authority has said. | |
| Flights are grounded at Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports. | |
| Ash levels from a volcano in Iceland were predicted to exceed acceptable levels for jet engines. | Ash levels from a volcano in Iceland were predicted to exceed acceptable levels for jet engines. |
| The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) also grounded flights to and from the Republic from 0700 BST on Tuesday. | The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) also grounded flights to and from the Republic from 0700 BST on Tuesday. |
| The IAA said the restrictions on Irish airpsace would be in place until at least 1300 BST. | The IAA said the restrictions on Irish airpsace would be in place until at least 1300 BST. |
| Air passengers expecting to travel to or from any of the affected airports are advised to contact the airport or their airlines for more information. | Air passengers expecting to travel to or from any of the affected airports are advised to contact the airport or their airlines for more information. |
| The British CAA said they were closely monitoring the situation and will update the advice to operators and passengers on Tuesday morning following the latest updates from the Met Office. | The British CAA said they were closely monitoring the situation and will update the advice to operators and passengers on Tuesday morning following the latest updates from the Met Office. |
| Airspace over the Outer Hebrides was closed to all operations on Monday at 1800 BST following advice from the Met Office. | Airspace over the Outer Hebrides was closed to all operations on Monday at 1800 BST following advice from the Met Office. |
| The IAA said the decision to close its airspace was based on information from the Volcanic Ash Advice Centre (VAAC). | The IAA said the decision to close its airspace was based on information from the Volcanic Ash Advice Centre (VAAC). |
| The body said the move to ground aircraft was based on the safety risks to crews and passengers as a result of the drift south of the volcanic ash cloud caused by the north-easterly winds. | The body said the move to ground aircraft was based on the safety risks to crews and passengers as a result of the drift south of the volcanic ash cloud caused by the north-easterly winds. |
| IAA chief executive Eamon Brennan said he was hopeful the flight restrictions could be eased later on Tuesday. | IAA chief executive Eamon Brennan said he was hopeful the flight restrictions could be eased later on Tuesday. |
| Flights over Europe were banned for six days last month because of fears of the effect of volcanic ash on plane engines. | Flights over Europe were banned for six days last month because of fears of the effect of volcanic ash on plane engines. |
| The decision to lift the restrictions followed safety tests that showed the engines could cope in areas of low density ash. | The decision to lift the restrictions followed safety tests that showed the engines could cope in areas of low density ash. |
| The fresh disruption comes as European Union transport ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss ways to improve air traffic management in the wake of last month's events. | The fresh disruption comes as European Union transport ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss ways to improve air traffic management in the wake of last month's events. |