This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-13513981

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Thousands face volcanic ash cloud flight cancellations Thousands face volcanic ash cloud flight cancellations
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of passengers face UK flight cancellations because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcanic eruption.Thousands of passengers face UK flight cancellations because of drifting ash from an Icelandic volcanic eruption.
BA, KLM and Easyjet are among the airlines that have chosen to suspend services in and out of Scotland. Some English airports are also affected. Airports likely to be affected from 1300 to 1900 BST include Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Carlisle, air traffic services company Nats said.
But Ryanair has objected to an order from Irish officials to ground its morning flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen on safety grounds. European air traffic controllers said 252 flights had been cancelled.
The ash cloud is not due to reach other parts of the UK until later on Tuesday. Ryanair has objected to an order from Irish officials to ground some flights to and from Scotland on safety grounds.
The Met Office said the ash had already reached northern Scotland and would spread to Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland by midday and across much of the UK by the end of the day. At 0800 BST the Met Office said the ash had already reached northern Scotland and would spread to Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland by midday and across much of the UK by the end of the day.
But forecasters said changing wind patterns make it hard to predict its exact path and concentrations would vary between regions.But forecasters said changing wind patterns make it hard to predict its exact path and concentrations would vary between regions.
Ryanair said it would complain about the "unnecessary cancellations" to the Irish Aviation Authority. Transport secretary Philip Hammond said although there would be widespread disruption for Scottish airports, it was unlikely to last long.
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, although they have to apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for final approval.
Transport secretary Philip Hammond said the UK was better prepared than it had been in 2010 but it was difficult to predict what would happen this time.
He told the BBC he expected Edinburgh and Glasgow airports to be clear by afternoon on Tuesday, and northern Scottish airports by Wednesday morning.He told the BBC he expected Edinburgh and Glasgow airports to be clear by afternoon on Tuesday, and northern Scottish airports by Wednesday morning.
"At the moment the model suggests that disruption later in the week is likely to be limited, but of course the weather patterns are changing all the time," he said."At the moment the model suggests that disruption later in the week is likely to be limited, but of course the weather patterns are changing all the time," he said.
The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday. The following airlines have chosen not to fly through Scottish airspace on Tuesday:
Iceland's airspace has been closed for a period as a result but 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.
  • British Airways is not operating any flights between London and Scotland until 1400 BST
    •
  • KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle as well as flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport
    •
  • EasyJet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen between 0500 and 1300 BST
    •
  • Ryanair said it has been advised by the Irish Aviation Authority not to operate flights from Glasgow Prestwick, Edinburgh or Aberdeen until at least 1300 BST but believed that "there is no basis for these flight cancellations"
    •
  • Flybe cancelled 11 flights to and from Scotland
    •
  • BMI said flights to and from Aberdeen were subject to delay and passengers should check its website, but services in and out of Glasgow and Edinburgh were running normally
  • Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected
    •
  • Eastern Airways will not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace
    •
However, the threat of disruption saw US President Barack Obama arrive in the UK from the Republic of Ireland on Monday night, a day ahead of his scheduled arrival for his state visit. 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.
A number of airlines are choosing not to fly through Scottish airspace on Tuesday: This year, in the UK, the decision on whether to fly or not in ash cloud conditions is down to individual airlines, although they have to apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for final approval.
  • British Airways is not operating any flights between London and Scotland until 1400 BST
    •
  • KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle as well as flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport
    •
  • EasyJet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen between 0500 and 1300 BST
    •
  • Ryanair said it has been advised by the Irish Aviation Authority not to operate flights from Glasgow Prestwick, Edinburgh or Aberdeen until at least 1300 BST but believed that "there is no basis for these flight cancellations"
    •
  • Flybe cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen and Inverness
    •
  • BMI said flights to and from Aberdeen were subject to delay and passengers should check its website, but services in and out of Glasgow and Edinburgh were running normally
  • Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights. Only inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected
    •
  • Eastern Airways will not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace
    •
The CAA said procedures were "totally different" compared with 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 CAA's Andrew Haines said: "It's a very fluid situation, partly because of the nature of the volcano, but also because the north of England and Scotland - as we've seen - have had very exceptional, windy conditions."
The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday and has 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.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Ryanair said it would complain to the Irish Aviation Authority about what it described as "unnecessary cancellations".
Since last year, the CAA has graded ash levels as low, medium or high, and airlines are notified if levels reach medium or high.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.All British aircraft can fly in medium-density ash but the airlines need to consider whether to fly, according to risk assessments.
A CAA spokesman said the current cloud could "potentially" cause serious disruption as charts showed the ash density below 35,000ft had reached the highest level at more than 4,000 microgrammes per cubic metre.
But he said procedures were "totally different" compared with last year and although no airlines had applied to fly in high-denisty ash, some had apllied for, and been given, permission to fly in medium ash.
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.
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.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions