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12/05/2010
Ash Cloud Rules Eased
Despite ash being found on the engines of Ryanair planes in Northern Ireland over the weekend - and an associated 'emergency landing' - it emerged today that safety rules governing flights in UK and Irish airspace have been eased.
The Civil Aviation Authority has announced that it had cleared the way for more flights by lifting the 60-mile no-fly buffer zone imposed around dense ash.
Passengers had been facing more disruption as the ash forced parts of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and the Canary Islands to close their airspace.
A CAA spokesman said its decision to remove the buffer zone was taken with the Irish Aviation Authority after three weeks of evidence gathering.
He said: "Following in-depth and evidence based studies a larger amount of air space can now be allowed to remain open when there are very small amounts of volcanic ash at acceptable levels in the atmosphere.
"This will reduce the impact of volcanic ash on airports, and ease some restrictions on flight operations, enabling more flights to resume."
The CAA, the UK's safety regulator, said its goal is to allow as much flying as safely possible.
But both Ryanair and Easyjet confirmed they had been forced to scrap flights to Europe as the problems from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano continued.
Airlines and airports urged passengers to check updated information before travelling.
London's two main airports both reported a handful of cancellations - 19 arrivals and 17 departures at Gatwick, and seven arrivals and four departures at Heathrow.
A Gatwick spokesperson also said 20 arrivals and 25 departures out of the 688 flights scheduled on Tuesday had been delayed by the ash.
Ryanair said it had cancelled flights to and from the Canary Islands, Faro and Madrid.
Flights to and from Granada, Jerez, Malaga, Seville and Tangier have also been cancelled.
British airports operator BAA has also warned of delays to transatlantic services and cancellations by airlines.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among the carriers whose passengers suffered long delays on Tuesday.
Last month, ash from the Iceland volcano shut down airspace across Europe for five days.
See: 'Solution' To Ryanair Emergency Revealed
(GK)
The Civil Aviation Authority has announced that it had cleared the way for more flights by lifting the 60-mile no-fly buffer zone imposed around dense ash.
Passengers had been facing more disruption as the ash forced parts of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and the Canary Islands to close their airspace.
A CAA spokesman said its decision to remove the buffer zone was taken with the Irish Aviation Authority after three weeks of evidence gathering.
He said: "Following in-depth and evidence based studies a larger amount of air space can now be allowed to remain open when there are very small amounts of volcanic ash at acceptable levels in the atmosphere.
"This will reduce the impact of volcanic ash on airports, and ease some restrictions on flight operations, enabling more flights to resume."
The CAA, the UK's safety regulator, said its goal is to allow as much flying as safely possible.
But both Ryanair and Easyjet confirmed they had been forced to scrap flights to Europe as the problems from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano continued.
Airlines and airports urged passengers to check updated information before travelling.
London's two main airports both reported a handful of cancellations - 19 arrivals and 17 departures at Gatwick, and seven arrivals and four departures at Heathrow.
A Gatwick spokesperson also said 20 arrivals and 25 departures out of the 688 flights scheduled on Tuesday had been delayed by the ash.
Ryanair said it had cancelled flights to and from the Canary Islands, Faro and Madrid.
Flights to and from Granada, Jerez, Malaga, Seville and Tangier have also been cancelled.
British airports operator BAA has also warned of delays to transatlantic services and cancellations by airlines.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among the carriers whose passengers suffered long delays on Tuesday.
Last month, ash from the Iceland volcano shut down airspace across Europe for five days.
See: 'Solution' To Ryanair Emergency Revealed
(GK)
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Air passengers have been braced for further delays after warnings that a "new ash cloud" was spreading towards the UK as the volcano eruption in Iceland "strengthened". Some domestic flights are taking off in the UK, as airports begin to reopen after five days.
Airports Stay Closed Amid New Ash Cloud
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easyJet To Conduct Ash Cloud Experiment
Luton-based airline easyJet has flown a tonne of volcanic ash from Iceland as part of an experiment to test an aircraft warning system. The volcanic ash was collected by the Institute of Earth Sciences in Reykjavik and dried to create the consistency of fine talc. It will be used in a "unique experiment" which is planned for this summer.
easyJet To Conduct Ash Cloud Experiment
Luton-based airline easyJet has flown a tonne of volcanic ash from Iceland as part of an experiment to test an aircraft warning system. The volcanic ash was collected by the Institute of Earth Sciences in Reykjavik and dried to create the consistency of fine talc. It will be used in a "unique experiment" which is planned for this summer.
10 August 2006
Airport chaos as police foil terror plot
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Airport chaos as police foil terror plot
Airports across Britain are facing major delays, following the disruption of a terrorist plot to blow up flights travelling between UK and the US. It is believed that the plot involved plans to smuggle explosives aboard several airliners with the intention of detonating the device mid-flight.
17 May 2010
Ash Grounds Travellers - Again
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Ash Grounds Travellers - Again
The Department for Transport says that UK airspace closures are set to continue because of continuing volcanic activity in Iceland. Disruption will last until Tuesday and may further affect some of Britain's busiest airports in the South East.
10 May 2010
Volcano Ash Grounds Flights - Again
Once again, thousands of air passengers have been facing disruption to flights as ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland caused more cancellations. Spain closed 19 of its airports on Saturday as the cloud of ash from the Icelandic volcano drifted south over western Europe.
Volcano Ash Grounds Flights - Again
Once again, thousands of air passengers have been facing disruption to flights as ash cloud from the erupting volcano in Iceland caused more cancellations. Spain closed 19 of its airports on Saturday as the cloud of ash from the Icelandic volcano drifted south over western Europe.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
