Airspace Closes Again After Brief Respite

On day six of the big flight shut-down, there's conflicting news of further volcanic ash cloud spreading towards the UK - with on-the-spot reports on BBC Radio Ulster that the Icelandic volcano at the heart of the storm has since moderated its activity.

Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano system could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.

Today, Northern Ireland airspace has opened and again closed after a brief window of opportunity for travellers on Tuesday morning.

The air traffic control body, Nats, said airspace would be closed from 1pm to 7pm as a new volcanic ash cloud spreads towards the UK.

Earlier, some flights left Belfast City Airport, bound for Scotland, although, at the International Airport, flights have been cancelled, except those to the Isle of Man.

The air traffic control body, Nats, said the situation was "dynamic and rapidly changing".

Meanwhile, the first planes from Edinburgh and Glasgow have both headed for Stornoway this morning - a few among a handful of internal flights scheduled from Scotland today.

But, Air traffic control body Nats again said a new ash cloud meant uncertainty and the situation was worsening in some areas.

Locally, flights to Scotland started from 10am with a Flybe flight to Glasgow and although Scottish airspace was open today, most of the flights went to destinations elsewhere in Scotland.

Earlier the Irish Aviation Authority warned that it could be days before things get back to normal.

Yesterday, just one solitary plane took to the skies above Belfast Lough with a handful of passengers to the short-haul, low level destination of the Isle of Man, while ferries sailed the same stretch of water bringing many weary travellers home at last.

(BMcC/GK)