SCOTLAND / IRELAND – Airports across Ireland and Scotland have once again had to be closed as the danger of volcanic ash ingestion in aircraft engines is considered to high to allow safe operations.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has imposed a no-fly zone since 1300 BST today to include Belfast City, Belfast International, Ronaldsway (Isle of Man) and Edinburgh Airports. Glasgow, Prestwick and Campbeltown had already been shut and shall remain so until at least 1900 BST.
However, Inverness airport, which had been closed, is reported to have been reopened.
At this time the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) states that: “Latest information from the Met Office shows that the ash cloud continues to move south and change shape. We continue to maintain close dialogue with the Met Office and with the CAA, which is responsible for imposing no-fly zones.
“These latest restrictions will be re-assessed by the CAA at 1900. We will issue a further update following that.”
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has also imposed restrictions on flights to and from Ireland and is advising that all passengers and freight agents check with their airline for details on the situation.
The IAA’s Chief Executive, Eamonn Brennan, has warned that it is entirely possible that flights could experience periodic disruption right through the summer.
The current projection from the Met Office indicates that the ash should hopefully move off Scotland, though perhaps not Ireland, by tomorrow morning.
However, the unpredictability of the ash cloud is all too well known after last month’s problems.
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