Flights Grounded As Volcanic Ash Spreads

There will be no flights from any airports in the British Isles until at least tomorrow morning.

All non-emergency flights to and from the UK and Irish Republic were initially cancelled from midday as plumes of Volcanic dust continued to travel from Iceland.

Aviation officials have now said that no flights will leave the UK until 7am tomorrow at the earliest.

Earlier the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said it had restricted the number of flights into UK airspace because the volcanic ash represents a significant safety threat to aircraft.

NATS later determined all UK air travel should be suspended until tomorrow morning.

Airports operator BAA confirmed all flights at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick were grounded from midday.

And in Scotland, authorities have already shut all their airports.

Flights have also been cancelled at Northern Ireland's three main airports.

All air passengers have been urged to contact their carriers for more information.

Ash is billowing from a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland.

The eruption first occurred around three weeks ago, however a second upsurge, teamed with the varying rates of emission intensity means dust was only pushed southwards within the past 12 hours.

Scotland, the most northern region of the United Kingdom, was affected first.

Met Office staff have predicted the ash will more to more southern areas as the day progresses.

Forecasters are monitoring volcanic eruptions as part of the Met Office’s role in the global network of Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC).

"Using observations from Iceland, satellite imagery and our specialist model which predicts how pollutants move through the atmosphere, we’ve sent out advisories to keep the aviation industry and pilots aware of the situation," said a Met Office spokesman.

All flights out of London have already been grounded. Flights scheduled in the Republic of Ireland have also been disrupted.

(PR/NS)