24/05/2011

Volcanic Ash Cloud Causes Flight Distruption

Passengers in the UK and Ireland are facing major flight disruption due to drifting ash from an Icelandic volcanic eruption.

Airlines including Easyjet, KLM and BA have suspended their services in and out of Scotland, with some English airports also being affected.

However Ryanair has rejected an order to ground flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen on safety grounds.

According to the Met Office, the ash has now reached northern Scotland and will spread to Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland by noon today.

However changing wind patterns make it difficult to predict.

A spokeman for Ryanair have said a complaint regarding "unnecessary cancellations" will be lodged against the Irish Aviation Authority.

(BMcN/GK)

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