All Uk Airports Shut

Airline passengers are facing massive disruption across the UK after an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland grounded planes.

In Scotland, all airports are shut and there is disruption at many others including Manchester, Liverpool, Stansted, Newcastle and Birmingham.

The Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) imposed restrictions after the Met Office warned ash could damage engines.

Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines prior to travel.

Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud would be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.

'Significant disruption'

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were shut as Nats said it was restricting flights "in accordance with international civil aviation policy".

The ash cloud disrupted all flights to and from Manchester with a similar picture at Newcastle airport where all arrivals were cancelled and all outbound flights either cancelled or subject to indefinite delay.

Liverpool's John Lennon airport suspended all flights until at least 1300GMT.


Airports in Scotland were the first to suspend flights overnight
British Airways said it had cancelled all domestic flights for the whole of Thursday, which affected flights at London's Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports.

Birmingham airport warned of severe disruption with about 90% of flights cancelled, and there were problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff and Bristol.

Most flights were suspended at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport, with some in and out of Dublin airport also hit.

A Nats spokesman said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.

"Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."

Engines shut

The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland by 1300GMT.

Brian Flynn, assistant head of operations of its central flow management unit, told the BBC: "As it moves toward the Netherlands and Belgium it will dissipate and lose intensity, like any weather phenomenon. But we don't know what the extent of it will be."

In about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash

Philip Avery
Met Office
Further south, five easyJet flights due to depart from Stansted airport in Essex were cancelled, along with all northbound flights from Southampton and Newquay airports.

Bournemouth airport grounded a flight to Dublin but said all other departures were on schedule.

Met Office forecaster Philip Avery said the ash could take several days to clear.

He said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south.

"Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash."

A BAA spokesman said: "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours.

The Royal Air Force has confirmed it will maintain its search and rescue operations.

A spokesman said: "We will continue to provide full search and rescue cover, however we will consider all requests we get on a case by case basis.

"The ash is mainly affecting the air traffic control radar but we can fly in cloud and reduced visibility.

The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.

A Nats spokesperson said the volcano was still erupting.

From midday apprently the whole of the UK air traffic will be grounded. Think they said for about 6 hours, but not sure about that last bit.

So really, Walter Smith's dandruff was just a little worse this morning cus of the stress induced of a draw last night, and his screaming at the ref for not awarding a pen after the game?

Sweet. I wanted to get flights to France for today but they ended up being too expensive. So I flew out yesterday instead. Zing!

ILOVEYOUSOFRIGGINMUCHTHOMASWARNER

Iceland just farted on us.

Its when i look at a map like that I realise just why its cold 8 months of the year in Scotland.

It should be fuckin chilly Baltic most of the time, we get lucky.

According to the guy on the new this morning, theres not going to be much change in the next few days. Also the volcano could keep exploding for the next year, so any time the wind is blowing this direction we could have problems with air travel!

This is affecting us at work, we now have 4 extra dogs staying for a few more days. Expecting to keep a few more that are due home tomorrow as well. We are licenced for 30 dogs, now have 32 by the end of tomorrow will probs be up to 35. Nothing we can do about it either.

One of my mates is stuck in spain until Friday and they were supposed to come home today. Anothers stuck in Australia until the 26th. Crazy.

The sheer ignorance and stupidity of some people during this was classic

"I was 'stranded' in beverly hills for 5 days" fuck sake, its as if California is on a par with Darfur

Enjoy the free holiday fuck sake, I know I would

Edith Bowman was saying she knows people stuck in LA until May 29th, unless they buy new seats.

As boring as cunts whining is, at least the ones who are outside of the EU/not using an EU carrier can complain, they've got no right to money or anything unless they have insurance (who'll fuck you over). It's the ones in Spain goin "IT'S HORRIBLE, THERE'S SUN AND WE ONLY GOT £50 FOR OUR DINNER LAST NIGHT" who are the royal fucks.

We still have customers at work stuck abroad. A few dogs have now gone home, but we still have a few left. Luckily my favourite dog ever is still in, she was meant to be in for 2 and a bit weeks. Its now been 3 and a half. Just lucky we have had space for them all just about. Been giving out seperate invoices for the extra days, in the hope the people can claim it back on their insurance.

My dad hasn't been able to fly out to Dubai for his work. So he's not getting any money...
It's not just people abroad that are losing money.