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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Ash cloud closes all NI airspace | Ash cloud closes all NI airspace |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| NI airspace is closed until at least 1300 BST on Tuesday due to volcanic ash drifting from Iceland, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said. | NI airspace is closed until at least 1300 BST on Tuesday due to volcanic ash drifting from Iceland, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said. |
| Flights are grounded at Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports. | 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) said airspace in the Irish Republic would reopen at 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. |
| BBC Northern Ireland weather presenter Barra Best said current Met Office charts were showing a high concentration of volcanic ash hanging over Northern Ireland. | BBC Northern Ireland weather presenter Barra Best said current Met Office charts were showing a high concentration of volcanic ash hanging over Northern Ireland. |
| "It should become thinner by lunchtime and hopefully clear away altogether by this evening," he added. | "It should become thinner by lunchtime and hopefully clear away altogether by this evening," he added. |
| "It is a constantly changing situation though and the Met Office is monitoring the volcanic ash, with NATS (National Air Traffic Services) and the CAA keeping you up to date on any changes." | "It is a constantly changing situation though and the Met Office is monitoring the volcanic ash, with NATS (National Air Traffic Services) and the CAA keeping you up to date on any changes." |
| 'Frustrating' | 'Frustrating' |
| Belfast City Airport operations director Mark Beattie said it was "a hugely frustrating time for everyone". | Belfast City Airport operations director Mark Beattie said it was "a hugely frustrating time for everyone". |
| "The airport is still open so if things change for the better we can get back to operations almost immediately," he added. | "The airport is still open so if things change for the better we can get back to operations almost immediately," he added. |
| Stephen McNamara from Ryanair said that engine manufacturers were warning that the current concentration of ash over Ireland could be dangerous and the airline was taking no risks. | Stephen McNamara from Ryanair said that engine manufacturers were warning that the current concentration of ash over Ireland could be dangerous and the airline was taking no risks. |
| He added that flights going over Ireland were not in danger because they travelling at a higher altitude. | He added that flights going over Ireland were not in danger because they travelling at a higher altitude. |
| "It's the aircraft taking off which involves a lot of engine activity," Mr McNamara added. | "It's the aircraft taking off which involves a lot of engine activity," Mr McNamara added. |
| Flybe and Easyjet said they were also liaising with the authorities and were looking forward to recommencing flights as soon as possible. | Flybe and Easyjet said they were also liaising with the authorities and were looking forward to recommencing flights as soon as possible. |
| Drift | Drift |
| 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. |
| 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. |