Volcanic Ash Cloud

Exclusive article from “Volcanic ash cloud threatens UK airspace as European airports close” by Maev Kennedy and agencies

Airports in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland affected as UK passengers are warned to check flight details. The ash plume from Iceland's stubbornly persistent volcano has closed most airports in northern Italy and some in Spain and Scotland until at least lunchtime today, with threats to the airspace of France, Switzerland and northern Portugal.

Six Scottish airports, including Inverness, remain closed until at least 1pm today. The Met Office warns that the volcano remains "dynamic", and that wind patterns could swing the ash cloud around into the UK's southern airspace by tonight.

Although some Spanish airports re-opened, Santiago, La Coruña and Vigo remain shut. The closures on the continent have already disrupted UK travellers, with Ryanair cancelling flights from Stansted, Edinburgh, and other UK airports to and from northern Italy and Portugal today, and between some continental airports. The airlines says flights in the west of Ireland are at risk later today.

Ryanair cancelled dozens of flights on Saturday, including those overflying southern France, Spain and Swiss airspace, and some to the Canary Islands. In common with other carriers the airline is urging passengers to check before setting off for the airport.

EasyJet also cancelled many flights, and is warning again of disruption on flights to and from Switzerland, France, Italy and Portugal.

Eurocontrol also reported delays on trans-Atlantic flights, which are having to be diverted to avoid the ash cloud.