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New ash disruption warning issued Airports closed over volcanic ash
(about 22 hours later)
Air passengers are facing the risk of further disruption from volcanic ash, the Scottish government has said. Scots air passengers are facing renewed disruption as flights are grounded because of volcanic ash and Prestwick airport has been closed completely.
High levels of ash from an Icelandic volcano will cover parts of Scotland on Sunday and the whole of the UK on Monday, according to Met Office advice. Flights from Belfast were cancelled from early morning after a no-fly zone was imposed over Northern Ireland.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said passengers were advised to check flight details with airlines before travelling to the airport. This was extended at 1300 BST to airports including Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast, Campbeltown in Argyll and the islands of Islay and Barra.
He added the situation was "fluid" but safety was paramount. Glasgow airport is open but it was expecting to be affected later.
"High levels of volcanic activity in Iceland and prevailing weather conditions mean that Scotland is once again facing disruption as aviation authorities consider appropriate steps to protect the travelling public," Mr Stevenson said. A spokesman said the whole of the west of Scotland could be affected by 0100 BST on Monday.
The Department of Transport said on Saturday that five-day ash prediction charts would be made available on the Met Office website. Prestwick, Campbeltown, Barra and Islay airports will remain closed until at least 1900 hours BST.
Previous forecasts were only given for the following 18 hours. Finance Secretary John Swinney said current predictions suggested the situation was "likely to worsen" over the next 24 hours before easing on Tuesday.
Mr Stevenson welcomed the decision to publish the five-day prediction charts. He said additional capacity was being made available on other modes of transport, including an extra 7,000 seats on Virgin trains.
But he called for further action to clarify advice to passengers, following the cancellation of BA flights from Heathrow to Scotland on Friday. "Once again Scotland is facing disruption and we are working hard to minimise the impact on the travelling public," he added.
According to reports, some passengers claimed they had been 'misled' that the reason was due disruption from volcanic ash. Uk airspace
'Consistent advice' Ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano closed UK airspace for five days last month.
Mr Stevenson said: "As important is that airlines are consistent in the way that they report advice and use it to inform operational decisions to avoid unnecessary and unhelpful confusion. High concentrations of ash have also grounded flights on numerous occasions since.
"I have today written to BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh to convey the frustration of passengers and to urge the airline to engage with the CAA, Nats and the Met Office to ensure there is consistent advice and action across the industry." Although Glasgow Airport is not currently covered by the no-fly zone it said Easyjet had cancelled flights until 1900 BST, a total of 11 flights.
Nats, the UK's air traffic services provider, will announce any airspace restrictions if they become necessary. Aer Lingus cancelled three flights and Flybe have cancelled nine departing flights up to 1700 BST.
A spokesman for BAA, which operates Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, welcomed the new five-day forecasts. Two flights bound for the US from Glasgow were also cancelled.
He added: "It's good to have information in advance but we are acutely aware that things can change quickly." A spokesman for Aberdeen airport said its airspace was clear but flights were cancelled to Manchester, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Belfast because of problems elsewhere.
Ash from the volcano caused severe disruption last month
Flights were cancelled from Edinburgh to Belfast and Newark, USA, in the morning.
Passengers are being advised to check flight details with airlines before travelling.
The Scottish government is also publishing information on the disruption likely to be caused by the volcanic ash, categorised into three levels, on its website.
It said the advice would provide an "instant snapshot" of the current situation for the public.
Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson previously 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".