Volcano ash shuts UK airports

Airline passengers faced massive disruption today after ash from Iceland's volcanic eruption moved towards UK airspace causing a number of airports to close.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were shut and five easyJet flights due to depart from Stansted Airport this morning were cancelled as a result of the huge plume of ash.

Birmingham airport warned of severe disruption with about 90% of all flights cancelled, and there were problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff and Southampton.

Airports have urged travellers to contact their airlines to check whether flights were affected.

A spokeswoman for Stansted Airport said: "Following advice from the Met Office, the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) has introduced restrictions to UK airspace this morning as a result of volcanic ash drifting across the United Kingdom from Iceland.

"These measures currently affect Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports which are closed but may also affect other parts of the UK later today.

"Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours."

Airlines also issued warnings of potential disruption.

A spokeswoman for easyJet said: "Following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland yesterday, an ash plume has entered UK and Scandinavian airspace overnight.

"As a result NATS have closed parts of UK airspace and this is causing significant disruption to all airlines due to operate flights to and from the UK today.

"EasyJet passengers are advised to check the website before they leave for the airport for any disruption information."

Forecasters believe the ash could take a number of days to disperse.

Matt Dobson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The concern is that as well as the eruption, the jet stream passing through Iceland is passing in a south easterly direction, which will bring ash to the north of Scotland and Denmark and Norway. But it is impossible to say how much ash will come down.

"It could be a threat in these areas from now until tomorrow or Friday."

A spokesman from Nats said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.

"NATS is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."