06/05/2010

UK Airports Open But How Long Will It Last?

Airports across the UK have reopened after the latest disruption to airspace caused by volcanic ash.

The ash cloud moved west overnight and has cleared UK airspace, air traffic control body Nats said.

Airspace over Scotland and Northern Ireland was shut overnight after levels of volcanic ash had made it too unsafe to fly.

Although airports have reopened there is still little comfort to holidaymakers who may face this ash cloud misery all summer. Air chiefs have admitted the Icelandic volcano shows no signs of letting up.

The Met Office said activity from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has increased and there were also fears it could trigger neighbouring volcano Katla.

The Civil Aviation Authority warned ash from the volcano could disrupt services over the summer months.

"It will depend on whether the volcano is still erupting and what the weather looks like," a spokesman said.

"We don’t know how long it will go on erupting. Some volcanologists are saying it could be months, which could disrupt British airspace."

The Icelandic volcano is volatile because it is erupting under an ice cap, Dr Dougal Jerram of Durham University said.

"It’s like throwing some menthol into a cola bottle and it makes the airport situation very unstable," he added.

Meanwhile victims of the ash imposed flight restrictions are being warned over the circulation of a hoax email.

The Scam Detectives, who uncovered the email, have said at the moment the latest target of online fraudsters are travellers who found themselves stranded by the volcanic ash cloud.

The e-mails claim they are from the Civil Aviation Authority, and say travellers affected can receive £2,000 - if they pay an administration fee.

But the Wrexham based website Scam Detectives warns that the messages are fake.

The CAA said it will be asking the police to investigate the scam.

"It's a scam through and through" said Charles Conway, editor of the Scam Detectives website, which was set up to offer advice and information on the latest types of fraud and tricks used online.

"If you reply, you'll be asked for an 'administration fee' before your payment can be released and you'll never see a penny."

To date the ash cloud chaos has cost the industry an estimated £2.2billion.

(LB/GK)

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