Global Airport News

Some domestic UK flights have taken off after five days of disruption but a second volcanic ash cloud from Iceland has hit plans to reopen airspace.

The first planes from Edinburgh and Glasgow were among a few internal flights scheduled from Scotland.

Air traffic control body Nats said a new ash cloud meant uncertainty and the situation was worsening in some areas.

An estimated 150,000 Britons have been stranded overseas as a result of the flight restrictions.

Meanwhile, British Airways has said 12 long-haul flights were currently en route to Heathrow, from Beijing, Singapore and the US west coast.

A spokeswoman said the airline had contingency plans for each flight if Heathrow was still closed but would not say which airports it would use instead.

It had been hoped that the intensity of volcanic eruptions was reducing, but the emergence of a new ash cloud has meant plans to reopen British airspace have been revised.

Jonathan Astill of Nats said the new ash cloud was a "significant change" to the situation on Monday.

He said: "The Met Office is reporting a further ash cloud that is coming down from Iceland and then covering the UK progressively during the day."

Flights in the south of the UK are unlikely to resume on Tuesday.

In a statement, Nats said: "The situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland remains dynamic and the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable."

Although Scottish airspace is open, most of the flights are to destinations elsewhere in Scotland.

Schedules are constantly changing and passengers have been advised not to travel to airports until they have checked with their airline or tour operator.

The first international flight from Glasgow was due to head for Reykjavik in Iceland at midday.

Nats said the latest Met Office information meant part of Scottish airspace, including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports, will continue to be available from 1300 to 1900 BST, and also south to Newcastle Airport.

However, there will be no flights from Glasgow after 1300 BST.

The spread of volcanic ash has affected large swathes of Europe for the past five days.

There has been huge disruption for air travellers, many of whom have embarked on long and costly journeys over land and sea to get home.

A small number of flights have taken off in northern Europe with planes departing from Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt – although many flights have been cancelled.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the safety of air passengers remained the "paramount concern".

The minister, who said he had maintained a constant dialogue with European and UK regulators regarding flights, added: "All decisions being taken by the aviation regulators are intended solely to protect the travelling public, and I will not compromise passenger safety."

He said the government is maintaining increased capacity for passengers to cross the channel.

There are an extra 20,000 passenger places a day across Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the ferries, according to the minister.

The situation at UK airports is as follows:

• Airports in eastern Scotland including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh will run flights between 1300 and 1900 BST
• Flights from Glasgow will stop at 1300 BST
• Manchester, Birmingham and East Midlands airports will run flights no earlier than 1900 BST
• Bristol airport is not operating flights until at least 1300 BST but is warning of significant delays once it opens
• Cardiff may operate six flights out of its airport after 1900 BST
• No airports south of Newcastle – including all London airports – will open before 1900 BST

Nats said more airspace over England was expected to become available from 1300 BST although not as far south as London's main airports.

It has emerged that Nats, in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority, has cleared the airspace over the ash cloud for "overflights" – those that fly over the cloud at altitude.

The move will allow flights between Europe or the Middle East and North America, which would normally fly through UK airspace.

It will also allow flights between open airports in Scotland and northern England, and those open in mainland Europe.

A Nats spokeswoman said: "The CAA has issued guidance in the early hours of Tuesday morning which enables aircraft to fly at a safe distance above the ash cloud.

"This will enable flights between airports that are not within the contaminated air, provided they can climb to altitudes to get above the ash cloud whilst in clear air."

Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit its website.

Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate.