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Thousands face volcanic ash cloud flight cancellations Thousands face volcanic ash cloud flight cancellations
(40 minutes later)
Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcano.Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcano.
About 500 flights were cancelled in Europe on Tuesday, air traffic management body Eurocontrol said.About 500 flights were cancelled in Europe on Tuesday, air traffic management body Eurocontrol said.
Airports affected include Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Carlisle, air traffic services company Nats said. Flights from some airports in Scotland and northern England would be affected until 0100 BST on Wednesday, air traffic services company Nats said.
Flights from some airports in Scotland and northern England would be affected until 0100 BST on Wednesday, Nats said. But the transport secretary said there should not be significant disruption for UK airports after Tuesday night.
Services at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Barra, Prestwick, Cumbernauld, Tiree, Carlisle and Durham Tees Valley could be affected until early on Wednesday.
The UK's emergency response committee, Cobra, met earlier to discuss the knock-on effects of the ash cloud.The UK's emergency response committee, Cobra, met earlier to discuss the knock-on effects of the ash cloud.
After the meeting, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there was cautious optimism for the coming days and there should not be significant disruption for UK airports after Tuesday night. After the meeting, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said there was cautious optimism for the coming days.
He said the ash plume had decreased in height and intensity, and south-westerly winds were predicted for the next two days which would move the cloud away from the UK.He said the ash plume had decreased in height and intensity, and south-westerly winds were predicted for the next two days which would move the cloud away from the UK.
British Airways was talking to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to get permission to fly in higher density ash cloud zones in certain circumstances, he added. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) divides the airspace into areas of high, medium and low density ash, and airlines wishing to fly in areas of medium or high density ash need to get a safety case accepted by the authority.
Mr Hammond rejected claims by Irish carrier Ryanair that it would have been safe to continue flying. It said earlier that, although no airlines had applied to fly in high-density ash, some had applied for, and been given, permission to fly in medium ash.
Mr Hammond said British Airways was talking to the CAA to get permission to fly in higher density ash cloud zones in certain circumstances.
And he rejected claims by Irish carrier Ryanair - which did later cancel its flights - that it would have been safe to continue flying in the areas of higher density ash cloud.
"We're quite prepared to talk to airlines about ways in which we can improve the regime on the basis of a properly demonstrated safety case," he said."We're quite prepared to talk to airlines about ways in which we can improve the regime on the basis of a properly demonstrated safety case," he said.
"But we're not going to be bullied by airlines or by anybody else when our primary responsibility is the safety of aircraft in British airspace and passengers leaving British airports.""But we're not going to be bullied by airlines or by anybody else when our primary responsibility is the safety of aircraft in British airspace and passengers leaving British airports."
The Met Office said the ash had reached northern Scotland and would spread across much of the UK by the end of the day. Ryanair said it had safely made a test flight through ash over Scotland.
But forecasters said changing wind patterns made it hard to predict its exact path and concentrations would vary between regions.
The following airlines announced cancellations:
  • British Airways will not operate any flights to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle on Tuesday
  • KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle as well as from Durham Tees Valley Airport
  • Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights to and from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh
  • Flybe cancelled 11 flights to and from Scotland
  • BMI cancelled all flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow for the rest of Tuesday
  • Loganair, based in Glasgow, cancelled 38 flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected
  • Eastern Airways will not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace
  • Easyjet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Newcastle
  • Ryanair cancelled all flights to and from Scotland for the rest of Tuesday
Minor air traffic disruptions were also reported in Norway and a small part of Denmark.
Despite later cancelling its flights, Ryanair claimed it had made a test flight through ash over Scotland and challenged a ruling some flights should be grounded.
Ryanair said its 90-minute flight at 41,000ft showed there was "no visible volcanic ash cloud or evidence of ash on the airframe, wings or engines".Ryanair said its 90-minute flight at 41,000ft showed there was "no visible volcanic ash cloud or evidence of ash on the airframe, wings or engines".
Ryanair said the "red zone" over Scottish airspace where ash has been classified "high-density" was invented by the Met Office and the CAA.
But a CAA spokesperson said: "The CAA can confirm that at no time did a Ryanair flight enter the notified area of high contamination ash over Scotland this morning."But a CAA spokesperson said: "The CAA can confirm that at no time did a Ryanair flight enter the notified area of high contamination ash over Scotland this morning."
The following airlines announced cancellations on Tuesday:
  • British Airways not operating any flights to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle on Tuesday
  • KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle as well as from Durham Tees Valley Airport
  • Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights to and from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh
  • Flybe cancelled 11 flights to and from Scotland
  • BMI cancelled all flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow for the rest of Tuesday
  • Loganair, based in Glasgow, cancelled 38 flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected
  • Eastern Airways not operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace
  • Easyjet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Newcastle
  • Ryanair cancelled all flights to and from Scotland for the rest of Tuesday
Minor air traffic disruptions were also reported in Norway and a small part of Denmark.
The cancellations come just over a year after another volcanic eruption in Iceland caused widespread disruption across Europe, including the closure of UK airspace, amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to engine aircraft.The cancellations come just over a year after another volcanic eruption in Iceland caused widespread disruption across Europe, including the closure of UK airspace, amid concerns about the damage volcanic ash could cause to engine aircraft.
This year, in the UK, the decision on whether to fly or not in ash cloud conditions is down to individual airlines subject to aviation authority approval.This year, in the UK, the decision on whether to fly or not in ash cloud conditions is down to individual airlines subject to aviation authority approval.
The CAA said procedures were "totally different" to last year and although no airlines had applied to fly in high-density ash, some had applied for, and been given, permission to fly in medium ash.
The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday and closed Iceland's airspace for a period.The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday and closed Iceland's airspace for a period.
Experts say the 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 the 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.
Refund possibilityRefund possibility
Frances Tuke, from travel industry body Abta, urged passengers to contact their airlines, which he said had legal obligations to their customers.Frances Tuke, from travel industry body Abta, urged passengers to contact their airlines, which he said had legal obligations to their customers.
He said passengers could have a claim under European "denied boarding" regulations.He said passengers could have a claim under European "denied boarding" regulations.
These state that if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than five hours, passengers are entitled to be either re-routed, given a replacement flight, or a refund.These state that if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than five hours, passengers are entitled to be either re-routed, given a replacement flight, or a refund.
Since last year, the CAA has graded ash levels as low, medium or high, and airlines are notified if levels reach medium or high.
All British aircraft can fly in medium-density ash but the airlines need to consider whether to fly, according to risk assessments.
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.
Icelandic government adviser Professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said the volcanic eruption was slowing down "day by day" and he believed the "worst is over".Icelandic government adviser Professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said the volcanic eruption was slowing down "day by day" and he believed the "worst is over".
Are you planning to fly in or out of the UK or to Iceland? Have your flights been suspended because of the ash cloud? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you planning to fly in or out of the UK or to Iceland? Have your flights been suspended because of the ash cloud? Send us your comments using the form below.
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