Irish airspace to re-open after new ash alert

Flights to and from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are due to resume from 1300 today, although are likely to be subject to delays.

All flights in and out of the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland were banned this morning (Tuesday) local time because of fresh risks from volcanic ash.

Air passengers booked on flights over remote parts of Scotland also faced disruption as a fresh cloud of volcanic ash drifted south from Iceland.

Airspace over Northern Ireland closed from 0700 BST and aviation authorities in the Irish Republic say flights in and out of the country were banned between 0700 and 1300 local time.

Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports were closed together with airports in Ireland but are to re-open at lunchtime as ash in the atmosphere will have reduced to levels where engine manufacturers agree flight operations are safe, according to the Civil Aviation Authority

Airports in the Outer Hebrides are also expected to be able to reopen this afternoon, allowing operations to resume from Benbecula, Barra, Tiree and Campeltown airports.

The CAA said this morning: "As the situation is very dynamic, passengers expecting to travel from the impacted airports should contact their airlines to confirm their flight is operating.

"Airspace over the UK is still being impacted by ash. While levels are now such that operations are possible, in line with the standards agreed by engine manufacturers, safety restrictions will remain in place."

Last month, tens of thousands of passengers faced delays or were stranded when a large part of European airspace was closed by the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

Flights over Europe were banned for six days because of fears of the effect of volcanic ash on plane engines.

European Union transport ministers are to meet in Brussels today to discuss ways to improve air traffic management in the wake of volcanic ash disruption.

Last week a spokeswoman for EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas said that had there been more co-ordination at EU level, air traffic could have resumed up to three days earlier. Travel Mole

Published: 4.5.2010