Flights cancelled over ash cloud

2011-05-23 17:11:59

24 May 2011 Last updated at 00:01 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Flights cancelled as ash cloud heads towards UK

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Andrew Haines, of the CAA, said UK aviation had "learned a great deal"

Champions League finalists Barcelona are already considering bringing forward their flight to London ahead of Saturday's final at Wembley against Manchester United.

The Catalan club had originally planned to travel on Thursday.

"Let's see what they [the experts] tell us and if they say we shouldn't risk it we'll travel tomorrow or the day after," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

During last April's six-day shutdown only a handful of flights took off or landed in the UK.

Thousands of Britons found themselves stranded overseas forcing many to make long and expensive journeys home by land. Airlines estimated the shutdown cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn).

The CAA said ash levels would now be graded as low, medium or high, and airlines would be notified if levels reached medium or high.

Airlines would then consider whether to fly, according to risk assessments already carried out, the CAA added.

The Foreign Office is advising passengers to remain in regular contact with their travel agent or airline for the latest news on the status of flights and bookings.

The Grimsvotn volcano in Vatnajokull National Park began erupting on Saturday with ash rising to 20km (12 miles) but, although still active, is now not as powerful with a plume of 13km (8 miles).

Continue reading the main story More information UK Foreign Office Eurocontrol Eurocontrol on Twitter Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres BBC Travel News - UK airports Vatnajokull National Park

Iceland's airspace has been closed for a period as a result.

Ash from the volcano, which is 60 miles (97km) from the nearest human settlements, has settled over farmland and livestock, causing difficulties for some farmers and tourists have been evacuated from the country's main national parks.

The Grimsvotn volcano lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in south-east Iceland. The latest eruption is its most powerful eruption in 100 years.

Experts say this eruption is on a different scale to the one last year and ash particles are larger and, as a result, fall to the ground more quickly.

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