Volcanic ash cloud heralds summer of doubt

AVIATION officials were meeting late last night amid fears flights may have to be grounded for a second day because of volcanic ash as Irish airlines face a summer of uncertainty.

Flights over Scotland and Northern Ireland were cancelled from 7am today after ash levels in the atmosphere made it unsafe to fly, mirroring the six-hour “no-fly zone” imposed on the Republic yesterday.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) met around midnight to examine the latest charts and forecasts from the London-based Volcanic Ash Advice Centre (VAAC).