Ryanair has cancelled all flights to and from Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh Airports for the rest of the day following a direction from the Irish Aviation Authority.

Ryanair has demanded the re-opening of Scottish airspace after the airline operated a one-hour "verification flight" that it says confirmed there was no volcanic ash in the airspace.

Aer Lingus and Ryanair have been forced to cancel a number of flights in and out of Scotland today, because of the threat of volcanic ash from Iceland.

RYANAIR is looking at opening routes to all major European airports bar the top three as slowing growth prompts the region’s topdiscount carrier to modify a strategy based on flying only to less-costly terminals.

Ryanair has announced that it is to cut its daily route from Kerry to Dublin from three to one return flight at the end of October.

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has blamed Stormont government delays over approving a controversial runway extension for his decision to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport.

Airlines are expected to operate as normal for the rest of the week as weather patterns pushed a volcanic ash cloud into north east Europe today.

The Irish Aviation Authority has said that Shannon Airport will close at 5.30pm today as the Icelandic volcano causes fresh travel misery.

Air passengers faced further misery today as volcanic ash forced restrictions in Irish airspace once again.

Aer Lingus tonight effectively ended rival carrier Ryanair’s plans to takeover the in-demand hangar six at Dublin Airport.

Budget airline Ryanair today claimed it offered the Government guarantees last year over the use of a hangar at Dublin Airport which could have secured hundreds of jobs.

Scottish airline Flyglobespan has been placed in administration, it was reported tonight.

AN English academic has criticised the Garda Ombudsman after its investigation into the alleged mistreatment of his partner by members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) three years ago found no wrong-doing.

A HOLIDAY price war has erupted as Ryanair takes on Aer Lingus in offering flights to the Canary Islands for about €60 return.

I WISH to respond to Edel Wright’s letter headlined ‘Emigrant family devastated by the loss of Cork-Glasgow flight link’ (September 17).

Aer Arann has announced that it will serve Cork – Glasgow (Prestwick) from October 28.

Cork Airport was flying high today after it announced a record 3.2 million passengers passed through its new terminal last year — a 6% jump in traffic on the previous year.

RYANAIR launched a seat sale blitz on all of its routes out of Cork Airport yesterday to mark the launch of its first European route from the southern capital.

RYANAIR will announce its first route from Cork Airport to mainland Europe today.

THE very future of Aer Lingus is again at stake.

Scotland. The birthplace of golf, the home of Monty, Sam Torrance, Sandy Lyle, Paul Lawrie, James Braid (more of whom anon) and others. Yes, if you want to talk about golf destinations, it would be pretty odd to omit Scotland.

A resurgent Ryanair leaped ahead by 20c today to €8.30 on foot of an announcement that the airline would be adding five new routes to its timetable.

Ryanair have today announced five new routes for 2007 - four from Dublin to Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Alghero and Trapani and one from Derry to Glasgow Prestwick.

A CHORUS of discontent was growing last night over the US use of British airports as staging posts for transporting weapons to Israel.

Ryanair has announced six new routes from Glasgow (two) and Frankfurt (four).

Aer Arann today launched its new service from Dublin to Inverness with the inaugural flight from Dublin arriving in Inverness at 11.45am.

Ryanair has launched eight new routes for this winter’s schedule, including two new destinations with daily flights from London Stansted to Toulon in the South of France and Krakow in Poland.

Ryanair today announced four new routes from Glasgow Prestwick to Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Pisa and Murcia (Spain).

Aer Arann is to introduce a new service from Knock airport to Liverpool on weekdays from Monday, June 21.

Aer Arann, Ireland's regional airline, has announced the introduction of two new services from City of Derry Airport to Manchester and Birmingham.

Aer Arann today announced an additional three new UK services, which are expected to add an extra 30,000 to its passenger numbers during the first year of operation.

The ISEQ index closed at 5070.45 on Thursday down 0.74 points.

Ryanair is to scrap its London to Brussels Charleroi route from April 29, it was announced today.

Ryanair scrapped 34 flights to or from Stansted, Luton or Glasgow Prestwick, and added four tomorrow to help passengers.

Regional airline Aer Arann has committed to operating the Galway to Glasgow Prestwick route after Air Wales pulled out.

Aer Arann has carried its one millionth passenger, which makes it one of the world's fastest growing regional airlines.

LOW-FARES airline Ryanair launched a one-million free seat sale yesterday and said the promotion would not hurt its profits.