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The Icelandic eruption - airport officials say the huge cloud of ash represents a very serious risk to aircraft BBC - Airline passengers are facing disruption across the UK after warnings of an huge ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland.
All of Scotland's airports were shut and there were disruptions at others including Manchester, Liverpool, Stansted, Newcastle and Birmingham. The Air Traffic Control Service (Nats), imposed restrictions after the Met Office warned ash could damage engines. Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines prior to travel. Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were shut and Nats said it was restricting flights "in accordance with international civil aviation policy". The ash cloud disrupted all flights to and from Manchester with a similar picture at Newcastle airport where all arrivals were cancelled and all outbound flights either cancelled or subject to indefinite delay. 'Significant disruption' Birmingham airport warned of severe disruption with about 90% of flights cancelled, and there were problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Cardiff. All flights were suspended at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport, with some flights in and out of Dublin airport also hit. A Nats spokesman 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." Further south, five easyJet flights due to depart from Stansted airport were cancelled and there were also delays at Southampton airport. A BAA spokesman said: "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours. Easyjet said the cloud, which is expected to move south, could cause "significant disruption". The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in Iceland in less than a month.
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