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Ash closes parts of UK airspace | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
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 drifts over north-western parts of the UK. | |
Airport closures are expected, although Belfast will stay open until 0700 BST. Dublin Airport is also open despite flight bans in the Republic of Ireland. | |
Travellers are being advised to check with their airline before leaving home. | |
In the south of Ireland, Donegal, Sligo and Knock airports are expected to be closed from 0600 BST. | |
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. | |
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. |
It's good to have information in advance but we are acutely aware that things can change quickly BAA spokesman | It's good to have information in advance but we are acutely aware that things can change quickly BAA spokesman |
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 would be made available on the Met Office website. | |
The Department for 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 for 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." |
Previous forecasts were only given for the following 18 hours. | Previous forecasts were only given for the following 18 hours. |
Transport Secretary Mr 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' | 'No firm details' |
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. |
Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson said he welcomed the five-day forecasts, but called upon airlines to be "consistent" to "avoid unnecessary and unhelpful confusion". | Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson said he welcomed the five-day forecasts, but 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. | He said he had written to BA chief executive Willie Walsh after the airline cancelled three flights to Scotland on Friday. |
A volcano can be erupting for several years and not cause any problems Dr Dougal JerramVolcanologist, Durham University Italy fines Ryanair over 'failings' | A volcano can be erupting for several years and not cause any problems Dr Dougal JerramVolcanologist, Durham University Italy fines Ryanair over 'failings' |
A BA spokesman said the flights were cancelled as a "precaution", and added it was "constantly in touch with Nats, the CAA and the Met Office... and it would be guided by safety considerations first". | A BA spokesman said the flights were cancelled as a "precaution", and added it was "constantly in touch with Nats, the CAA and the Met Office... and it would be guided by safety considerations first". |
BA is facing industrial action in the coming days, potentially adding to travel disruption. | |
A spokesman for BAA, which operates Heathrow, Stansted and Southampton airports in the south of England and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, also welcomed the new five-day forecasts. | A spokesman for BAA, which operates Heathrow, Stansted and Southampton airports in the south of England and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, also 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. | "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. | "Over the next 24 hours we'll have a much clearer idea how it will affect southern England," he added. |
A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said it was "business as usual", with a flight schedule "operating normally" unless it was "informed otherwise" by the Department for Transport or the Met Office. | A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said it was "business as usual", with a flight schedule "operating normally" unless it was "informed otherwise" by the Department for Transport or the Met Office. |
Safe-to-fly threshold | Safe-to-fly threshold |
Andrew McConnell, a spokesman for easyJet, said it was "frustrating" that the modelling regulators were using meant airport and airspace closures could only be confirmed six hours in advance. | Andrew McConnell, a spokesman for easyJet, said it was "frustrating" that the modelling regulators were using meant airport and airspace closures could only be confirmed six hours in advance. |
Peter Gibbs explains how the ash cloud is moving into UK airspace | Peter Gibbs explains how the ash cloud is moving into UK airspace |
He said the airline planned to operate between 95% and 99% of its flights on Sunday morning, with Belfast "the only area of concern". | He said the airline planned to operate between 95% and 99% of its flights on Sunday morning, with Belfast "the only area of concern". |
"As the situation is changing throughout the night we advise passengers to check easyjet.com before leaving home," he added. | "As the situation is changing throughout the night we advise passengers to check easyjet.com before leaving home," he added. |
Meanwhile, Network Rail said it was boosting services to and from Scotland, and to Irish Sea ports. | Meanwhile, Network Rail said it was boosting services to and from Scotland, and to Irish Sea ports. |
Robin Gisby, Network Rail's director of operations, said, if necessary, engineering work would also be postponed to allow more services to run. | |
"The situation is being kept under review and we will continue to develop robust contingency plans," he said. | "The situation is being kept under review and we will continue to develop robust contingency plans," he said. |
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 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 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". |
'Could be worse' | 'Could be worse' |
"During the last phase, where it was more explosive, the weather patterns weren't so bad and it wasn't as disruptive as it could be. | "During the last phase, where it was more explosive, the weather patterns weren't so bad and it wasn't as disruptive as it could be. |
"A volcano can be erupting for several years and not cause any problems," he said. | "A volcano can be erupting for several years and not cause any problems," he said. |
In 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. | In 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. |
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. | |
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. | 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". | |
The airline initially insisted it would only refund the cost of passengers' tickets, but later agreed to fully implement European regulations and pay all "reasonable expenses". | |
A spokeswoman said: "Ryanair fully complies with EU [Regulation] 261 and has been complimented by the EU." | |
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. |
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