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| Flights cancelled as ash cloud heads towards UK | Flights cancelled as ash cloud heads towards UK |
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| Flights in Scotland have been cancelled as a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland heads towards the UK. | Flights in Scotland have been cancelled as a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland heads towards the UK. |
| Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights on Tuesday, and Eastern Airways cancelled 50, as ministers said some flights over the Atlantic were delayed. | Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights on Tuesday, and Eastern Airways cancelled 50, as ministers said some flights over the Atlantic were delayed. |
| The threat of further disruption led US President Barack Obama to fly out of the Republic of Ireland a day early to get to London for a state visit. | |
| Ash from another Icelandic volcano led to huge disruption in Europe last year. | |
| Air Force One | |
| Mr Obama had been due to fly to the UK on Tuesday morning. | |
| But White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said: "Due to a recent change in the trajectory in the plume of volcanic ash, Air Force One will depart Ireland for London tonight. The schedule for tomorrow will proceed as planned." | But White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said: "Due to a recent change in the trajectory in the plume of volcanic ash, Air Force One will depart Ireland for London tonight. The schedule for tomorrow will proceed as planned." |
| Andrew Haines, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, said he hoped to avoid a repeat of last year's travel chaos, but he admitted it was still unclear how badly flights would be affected. | Andrew Haines, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, said he hoped to avoid a repeat of last year's travel chaos, but he admitted it was still unclear how badly flights would be affected. |
| "We know so much more about the volcanoes. We have an improved model. | "We know so much more about the volcanoes. We have an improved model. |
| "We have better measuring equipment and we have better relationships with airlines so it should be much better but we're still at the hands of both the weather and the volcano; those are the two uncertainties." | "We have better measuring equipment and we have better relationships with airlines so it should be much better but we're still at the hands of both the weather and the volcano; those are the two uncertainties." |
| Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there had already been "modest delays" to flights, particularly those crossing the Atlantic, and there could be further disruption later in the week. | Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there had already been "modest delays" to flights, particularly those crossing the Atlantic, and there could be further disruption later in the week. |
| "Clearly, this is a natural phenomenon which we cannot control, but the UK is now much better prepared to deal with an ash eruption than last year." | "Clearly, this is a natural phenomenon which we cannot control, but the UK is now much better prepared to deal with an ash eruption than last year." |
| Any further disruption is likely to affect thousands of air passengers. | |
| Champions League finalists Barcelona are already considering bringing forward their flight to London ahead of Saturday's final at Wembley against Manchester United. | |
| The Catalan club had originally planned to travel on Thursday. | |
| "Let's see what they [the experts] tell us and if they say we shouldn't risk it we'll travel tomorrow or the day after," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. | |
| During last April's six-day shutdown only a handful of flights took off or landed in the UK. | During last April's six-day shutdown only a handful of flights took off or landed in the UK. |
| Thousands of Britons found themselves stranded overseas forcing many to make long and expensive journeys home by land. Airlines estimated the shutdown cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn). | Thousands of Britons found themselves stranded overseas forcing many to make long and expensive journeys home by land. Airlines estimated the shutdown cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn). |
| The CAA said ash levels would now be graded as low, medium or high, and airlines would be notified if levels reached medium or high. | The CAA said ash levels would now be graded as low, medium or high, and airlines would be notified if levels reached medium or high. |
| Airlines would then consider whether to fly, according to risk assessments already carried out, the CAA added. | Airlines would then consider whether to fly, according to risk assessments already carried out, the CAA added. |
| Loganair operates services from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, as well as Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown. It also provides a service from Dundee to Birmingham and Belfast. | Loganair operates services from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, as well as Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown. It also provides a service from Dundee to Birmingham and Belfast. |
| A spokesman for the airline said Met Office forecasts indicated that a high density of ash would be present in large parts of Scottish airspace throughout Tuesday, clearing into Wednesday morning. | A spokesman for the airline said Met Office forecasts indicated that a high density of ash would be present in large parts of Scottish airspace throughout Tuesday, clearing into Wednesday morning. |
| It has cancelled almost all flights on Tuesday and advised customers due to travel to contact them to rearrange flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected. | It has cancelled almost all flights on Tuesday and advised customers due to travel to contact them to rearrange flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected. |
| Meanwhile, Eastern Airways will not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace on Tuesday. | Meanwhile, Eastern Airways will not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace on Tuesday. |
| The Scottish Government's resilience team said it would continue to monitor the situation as it confirmed disruption to air travel was expected on Tuesday. | The Scottish Government's resilience team said it would continue to monitor the situation as it confirmed disruption to air travel was expected on Tuesday. |
| The UK's air traffic control service, Nats, said volcanic ash was forecast to affect parts of Scotland between 1800 BST and midnight on Monday. | The UK's air traffic control service, Nats, said volcanic ash was forecast to affect parts of Scotland between 1800 BST and midnight on Monday. |
| The Met Office, which runs Europe's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, earlier said there was a possibility of ash moving across the UK towards the end of the week. | The Met Office, which runs Europe's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, earlier said there was a possibility of ash moving across the UK towards the end of the week. |
| The Foreign Office is advising passengers to remain in regular contact with their travel agent or airline for the latest news on the status of flights and bookings. | The Foreign Office is advising passengers to remain in regular contact with their travel agent or airline for the latest news on the status of flights and bookings. |
| The Icelandic Met Office said the ash cloud could touch north-west Scotland on Monday evening, reaching about 20,000ft (6,100 metres) below the normal cruising altitude of commercial aircraft. | The Icelandic Met Office said the ash cloud could touch north-west Scotland on Monday evening, reaching about 20,000ft (6,100 metres) below the normal cruising altitude of commercial aircraft. |
| The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday with ash rising to 20km (12 miles) but, although still active, is now not as powerful with a plume of 13km (8 miles). | The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday with ash rising to 20km (12 miles) but, although still active, is now not as powerful with a plume of 13km (8 miles). |
| Iceland's airspace has been closed but may open later on Monday, according to the British Foreign Office. | Iceland's airspace has been closed but may open later on Monday, according to the British Foreign Office. |
| The country's main international airport, Keflavik airport near the capital Reykjavik, has been closed but Iceland's aviation authority said it would open at 2000bst. | The country's main international airport, Keflavik airport near the capital Reykjavik, has been closed but Iceland's aviation authority said it would open at 2000bst. |
| Ash from the volcano, which is 60 miles (97km) from the nearest human settlements, has settled over farmland and livestock, causing difficulties for some farmers and tourists have been evacuated from the country's main national parks. | Ash from the volcano, which is 60 miles (97km) from the nearest human settlements, has settled over farmland and livestock, causing difficulties for some farmers and tourists have been evacuated from the country's main national parks. |
| The Grimsvotn volcano lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in south-east Iceland. The latest eruption is its most powerful eruption in 100 years. | The Grimsvotn volcano lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in south-east Iceland. The latest eruption is its most powerful eruption in 100 years. |
| Experts say this eruption is on a different scale to the one last year and ash particles are larger and, as a result, fall to the ground more quickly. | Experts say this eruption is on a different scale to the one last year and ash particles are larger and, as a result, fall to the ground more quickly. |
| Are you planning to fly in or out of the UK or to Iceland? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you planning to fly in or out of the UK or to Iceland? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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