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Warning of ash flight disruption Warning of ash flight disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Parts of the UK's airspace are at risk of closure from Sunday because of volcanic activity in Iceland, the Department for Transport has said.Parts of the UK's airspace are at risk of closure from Sunday because of volcanic activity in Iceland, the Department for Transport has said.
Disruption could affect some of the UK's busiest airports in south-east England until Tuesday, it warned. Disruption could hit airports in south-east England until Tuesday, it warned.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said passenger safety was the government's top priority. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the situation was "fluid" but that passenger safety was the top priority.
Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused disruption to thousands of flights during April. British Airways will discuss the likely impact with air traffic control body, Nats. Airport operator BAA said the situation would be clearer by Sunday.
Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has caused disruption to thousands of flights since April.
Airspace across Europe was shut down for five days following concerns that ash could turn to molten glass in high temperatures, crippling plane engines.Airspace across Europe was shut down for five days following concerns that 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.
Prediction charts It's good to have information in advance but we are acutely aware that things can change quickly BAA spokesman
In the past week, several airports in southern Europe were forced to close and flights were re-routed. In the past week, several airports in southern Europe have been forced to close and flights have been re-routed.
Ministers have agreed on Saturday that five-day ash prediction charts would be made available on the Met Office website. Ministers agreed on Saturday that five-day ash prediction charts would be made available on the Met Office website.
"Within this timeframe, different parts of UK airspace - including airspace in the South East - are likely to be closed at different times," the Department of Transport said in a statement. "Within this timeframe, different parts of UK airspace - including airspace in the south east - are likely to be closed at different times," the Department of Transport said in a statement.
Previous forecasts were only given for the following 18 hours.Previous forecasts were only given for the following 18 hours.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the five-day forecasts would ensure "airlines, other transport providers and the public [had] the best possible information". Transport Secretary Mr Hammond said the five-day forecasts would ensure "airlines, other transport providers and the public [had] the best possible information".
But he stressed the situation "remained fluid" and the forecasts - based on assumptions about future volcanic activity and prevailing weather conditions - were "always liable to change".But he stressed the situation "remained fluid" and the forecasts - based on assumptions about future volcanic activity and prevailing weather conditions - were "always liable to change".
"Nats - the UK's air traffic services provider - will advise of any airspace closures as and when they become necessary and I urge passengers to check with their airlines before taking any action," he added."Nats - the UK's air traffic services provider - will advise of any airspace closures as and when they become necessary and I urge passengers to check with their airlines before taking any action," he added.
'No firm details'
A spokesman for BAA, which operates Heathrow, Stansted and Southampton airports in the south of England and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, welcomed the new five-day forecasts.
"It's good to have information in advance but we are acutely aware that things can change quickly," he said.
"Over the next 24 hours we'll have a much clearer idea how it will affect southern England," he added.
A British Airways spokesman said: "There is a possibility of some disruption of airspace but we can't give any firm details yet," he said.
"The public will understand if there are some disruptions. It is out of our hands.
BA is facing strike action in the coming days, potentially adding to travel disruption.