Shannon, Knock and Galway shut until 1pm

GREATLY increased activity in the Icelandic volcano, which has already cost the European airline industry more than €1.2 billion, has led to more flight restrictions in and out of six Irish airports today.

Dublin, Cork and Waterford are the only airports which will remain open.

Shannon, Knock and Galway airports will be closed from 3am until 1pm today, with Kerry Airport facing restrictions from 7am until 1pm.

“The restrictions are required as the increased level of recent volcanic activity has created a massive ash cloud stretching 1,000 miles long and 700 miles wide,” the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said last night. “While the northerly winds are keeping the bulk of the cloud out in the Atlantic, the increased size of the cloud is encroaching on Irish airspace along the west coast of Ireland.”

Due to the expected position of the ash cloud during the next 18 hours, it is essential that the airports along the west coast will have restrictions imposed in the interest of safety of passengers and crews,” the IAA spokesman added

Both the density of volcanic ash in the atmosphere and the height of the plume have intensified.

Yesterday, the IAA lifted restrictions at Irish airports as the clouds of volcanic ash moved to the west of the country. But scientists monitoring the activity of the Eyjafjallajökul volcano yesterday recorded greatly increased activity, which was viewed with renewed concern by aviation authorities.

Inner earth eruptions “had increased the level of ash emitted into the atmosphere and the height of the plume. As the current winds are northerly, the cloud is travelling across the Atlantic and is not affecting Irish airspace although the cloud size has substantially increased,” the IAA stated.

High altitude winds have been carrying the ash cloud directly south over the north Atlantic at a height of about nine kilometres.

“The effect on European air traffic should be negligible but that is up to aviation authorities in each country,” said meteorologist Gudrun Nina Peterson.

The ash emissions disrupted air travel over northern Europe for a week last month and returned this week, grounding flights in Ireland and Britain.

The ash plume was reported to be as high as 10km into the air on Tuesday, higher than any time during the crisis last month.

Since then, activity decreased until yesterday when meteorologists picked up signs of increasing seismic activity under the volcano.

“The eruption is going at full speed,” said geophysicist Sigurlaug Hjaltadottir. “This is evident by our measurements and by the fact there is still quite a bit of ash production, coupled with massive explosions.”

Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and Donegal airports re-opened at 4am yesterday, while Sligo Airport began operations at 6am. Shannon Airport and the airports in Knock, Galway and Kerry also re-opened yesterday.

Passengers planning to travel by air over the coming days are advised to check regularly with airlines and the IAA website in advance of going to the airport.