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Ash closes parts of UK airspace | Ash closes parts of UK airspace |
(10 minutes later) | |
A no-fly zone has been imposed over parts of Northern Ireland, causing renewed disruption for air travellers. | A no-fly zone has been imposed over parts of Northern Ireland, causing renewed disruption for air travellers. |
The move by the Civil Aviation Authority comes as a dense volcanic ash cloud from Iceland heads towards north-western parts of the UK. | The move by the Civil Aviation Authority comes as a dense volcanic ash cloud from Iceland heads towards north-western parts of the UK. |
Airport closures are expected, with Belfast shut from 0700-1300 BST. Dublin Airport will stay open despite flight bans in the Irish Republic. | Airport closures are expected, with Belfast shut from 0700-1300 BST. Dublin Airport will stay open despite flight bans in the Irish Republic. |
Forecasts say ash may extend over the UK on Monday and Tuesday. | Forecasts say ash may extend over the UK on Monday and Tuesday. |
Travellers are being advised to check with their airline before leaving home. | Travellers are being advised to check with their airline before leaving home. |
Donegal, Sligo and Knock airports in the Republic are expected to be closed from 0600 BST on Sunday, but Shannon will remain open until at least 1300 BST. | |
Belfast Harbour and Ronaldsway (Isle of Man) airports are also to close from 0700 BST. | Belfast Harbour and Ronaldsway (Isle of Man) airports are also to close from 0700 BST. |
In a statement, Nats, the air traffic authority, said: "A high density volcanic ash cloud is rapidly encroaching on Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man." | In a statement, Nats, the air traffic authority, said: "A high density volcanic ash cloud is rapidly encroaching on Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man." |
The cloud is expected to lie over the London area by Tuesday, but is likely to have drifted out of UK airspace by Wednesday, forecasters say. | The cloud is expected to lie over the London area by Tuesday, but is likely to have drifted out of UK airspace by Wednesday, forecasters say. |
EasyJet said it has so far cancelled 11 Sunday flights from Belfast International Airport. | EasyJet said it has so far cancelled 11 Sunday flights from Belfast International Airport. |
The Department of Transport, which is establishing five-day ash prediction charts, is warning there is a chance airports in south-east England may be also be affected in the next few days. | The Department of Transport, which is establishing five-day ash prediction charts, is warning there is a chance airports in south-east England may be also be affected in the next few days. |
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the situation was "fluid" but passenger safety was the top priority. | Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the situation was "fluid" but passenger safety was the top priority. |
Peter Gibbs explains how the ash cloud is moving into UK airspace | Peter Gibbs explains how the ash cloud is moving into UK airspace |
Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has caused disruption to thousands of flights since April. | Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has caused disruption to thousands of flights since April. |
Meanwhile, Italy has fined Irish airline Ryanair 3m euros (£2.5m) for failing to help some passengers after cancelling their flights during the crisis. | Meanwhile, Italy has fined Irish airline Ryanair 3m euros (£2.5m) for failing to help some passengers after cancelling their flights during the crisis. |
Ministers agreed on Saturday that the five-day forecasts, rather than 18-hour ones, would be made available on the Met Office website. | Ministers agreed on Saturday that the five-day forecasts, rather than 18-hour ones, would be made available on the Met Office website. |
The Met Office said its charts would be updated every six hours. A spokeswoman said the ash plume was currently about 25,000ft (7,620m) high, with winds blowing from the north west. | The Met Office said its charts would be updated every six hours. A spokeswoman said the ash plume was currently about 25,000ft (7,620m) high, with winds blowing from the north west. |
But she said the wind was expected to change direction in the middle of next week, taking ash away from the UK. | But she said the wind was expected to change direction in the middle of next week, taking ash away from the UK. |
Molten glass | Molten glass |
Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson called upon airlines to be "consistent" to "avoid unnecessary and unhelpful confusion". | Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson called upon airlines to be "consistent" to "avoid unnecessary and unhelpful confusion". |
He said he had written to BA chief executive Willie Walsh after the airline cancelled three flights to Scotland on Friday. BA said the flights were cancelled as a "precaution". | He said he had written to BA chief executive Willie Walsh after the airline cancelled three flights to Scotland on Friday. BA said the flights were cancelled as a "precaution". |
BA is facing industrial action in the coming days, potentially adding to travel disruption. | BA is facing industrial action in the coming days, potentially adding to travel disruption. |
Meanwhile, Network Rail said it was boosting services to and from Scotland, and to Irish Sea ports, with engineering works postponed where necessary. | Meanwhile, Network Rail said it was boosting services to and from Scotland, and to Irish Sea ports, with engineering works postponed where necessary. |
Dr Dougal Jerram, a volcanologist from Durham University, warned the last big eruption of Eyjafjallajokull - in the 1820s - went on for about two years, and its current eruption could last "several months". | Dr Dougal Jerram, a volcanologist from Durham University, warned the last big eruption of Eyjafjallajokull - in the 1820s - went on for about two years, and its current eruption could last "several months". |
But he said the continued eruptions would not necessarily cause more problems to air travel, as a number of factors - explosive eruptions, a concentrated plume and certain weather patterns - needed to be in place at the same time to create "the perfect storm". | But he said the continued eruptions would not necessarily cause more problems to air travel, as a number of factors - explosive eruptions, a concentrated plume and certain weather patterns - needed to be in place at the same time to create "the perfect storm". |
In April, airspace across Europe was shut down for five days over concerns ash could turn to molten glass in high temperatures, crippling plane engines. | In April, airspace across Europe was shut down for five days over concerns ash could turn to molten glass in high temperatures, crippling plane engines. |
Scientists and engineers have since revised the safe-to-fly threshold, but clouds of volcanic ash have continued to drift over Europe, causing airport closures, flight delays and cancellations. | Scientists and engineers have since revised the safe-to-fly threshold, but clouds of volcanic ash have continued to drift over Europe, causing airport closures, flight delays and cancellations. |
In the past week, several airports in southern Europe have been forced to close and flights have been re-routed. | In the past week, several airports in southern Europe have been forced to close and flights have been re-routed. |
Italy's civil aviation authority fine on Ryanair comes after it said it knew of 178 cases of passengers who did not receive mandatory assistance, such as food - required under EU regulations - between 17 and 22 April. Ryanair called the allegation "complete rubbish". | Italy's civil aviation authority fine on Ryanair comes after it said it knew of 178 cases of passengers who did not receive mandatory assistance, such as food - required under EU regulations - between 17 and 22 April. Ryanair called the allegation "complete rubbish". |
Are your travel plans likely to be affected by the latest anticipated disruptions? Are you travelling from an airport in the south-east of England between Sunday and Tuesday? Will you make alternative travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are your travel plans likely to be affected by the latest anticipated disruptions? Are you travelling from an airport in the south-east of England between Sunday and Tuesday? Will you make alternative travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below. |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |