(15 Apr 2010)
On the left: Smoke billows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, yesterday. A volcanic eruption spewed black smoke and white steam into the air, causing disruption to flights across Europe.
Flights between Ireland and Britain have been grounded after an ash cloud from a volcano eruption in Iceland drifted into UK airspace.
More than 100 flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports have been delayed or cancelled due to the volcanic ash which can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has said Irish airspace will be closed from noon until 8pm. A spokeswoman for the Dublin Airport Authority said no planes would land or take off from Irish airports during that time.
The IAA said it is "not safe" for aircraft to fly into volcanic dust as it can cause engines to shut down and other electrical faults.
"The situation is being closely monitored and an update will be provided at noon today", it said in a statement released this morning.
Flights at Belfast have also been disrupted. Significant queues are being reported at Dublin airport this morning.
Belfast International Airport and George Best International airport have closed and all intending passengers from Irish airports are advised to contact their airline. Aer Lingus and Ryanair passengers are asked to check the airline’s websites.
Ryanair said the closure of airspace due to Icelandic volcano ash may lead to delays or cancellations. "These disruptions are outside our control," the carrier said on its website. A spokesperson said all Ryanair flights into Britain would be postponed after 9am.
Aer Lingus said there will be major disruption to its flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast and London Gatwick today due to the closure of UK airspace.
The following transatlantic flights are scheduled to operate: Dublin to New York (EI 105); Dublin to Orlando (EI 121) and Dublin to Chicago (EI 125).
Irish Ferries has reported an increase in bookings and a surge in visits to its website as passengers seek to secure alternative means of travel.
Airports at Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Newcastle are also closed. Gatwick, Stanstead, Heathrow and London City airports are also reported to be closing from 11.30am.
Manchester Airport has postponed all flights until 1pm.
British Airways said it has cancelled all domestic flights today for safety reasons.
The British air traffic control service (Nats) has restricted flights due to ash over northern Scotland but said the ash cloud is expected to move south during the day. The move came a day after similar restrictions were implemented in northern Norway.
A statement on the Nats website said: "We took this decision in order to maintain safety. We continue to work with our neighbouring air navigation service providers to minimise the impact on our aviation customers".
The volcanic eruption threw black smoke and white steam into the air yesterday and partly melted a glacier. The plume of smoke was seen rising from a crater under about 200 metres of ice at the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, close to the site of another eruption which started last month and died down on Monday, Icelandic state radio reported.
Some 700 people were forced out of their homes as melting ice from the glacier caused flooding that threatened to damage a highway and several bridges.
"We have had to dig some holes in the road so the flood could pass through and ease pressure on the bridges," Rognvaldur Olafsson, who is leading the rescue effort, told journalists.
Three large holes which were visible on the glacier in the morning had turned into a continuous rift running for about two kilometres through the ice, he added.
Scientists had measured increased seismic activity near the glacier about two hours before the volcano started to erupt early yesterday, local media reported.
The volcano, situated beneath Iceland's fifth largest glacier, has erupted five times since Iceland was settled in the ninth century.
Iceland sits on a volcanic hotspot in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and has relatively frequent eruptions, though most occur in sparsely populated areas and pose little danger to people or property. The last eruption before that in March was in 2004.
List of affected airports
Ireland
Flights to and from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports are facing delays or cancellations.
Northern Ireland
Most flights at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport, are suspended.
London
All flights to and from London's Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports are cancelled after 11.30am.
England and Wales
Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool's John Lennon, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff and Bristol airports are facing flight delays and cancellations.
Scotland
Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are closed.
Source: Irish Times