Renewed volcano activity threatens flights disruption

Plans by aviation chiefs to reopen Irish airspace today were thrown into doubt after eruptions at the Icelandic volcano intensified.

European air traffic control chiefs were constantly monitoring ash levels in the air overnight before drawing up three zones for possible flights in Europe.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) hoped to relax an airspace shutdown at 5am but experts warned a new ash cloud was spreading south and east towards the UK.

The IAA warned European authorities have the power to determine the size of a no-fly zone, a second buffer zone where ash is recorded and a third area free from restrictions.

“The recommendation of having a no-fly zone around the volcano and a buffer zone, they will determine the size of that,” a spokesman said.

“Maybe it’s going to be much larger than we thought earlier.

“If the eruptions get to be a serious level again that no-fly zone will be larger and may extend over Irish airspace.”

The IAA said the situation would be monitored constantly through the night with weather patterns and eruptions the key determining factors.

It is feared weary travellers will now have to wait until the end of the week to board flights.

Earlier, Aer Lingus said it planned to operate scheduled transatlantic flights as normal tomorrow as well as flights to Spain, Portugal and Italy up until 1pm.

It also hoped the majority of European routes would return to normal.

Those plans were thrown into doubt and the IAA advised travellers to contact individual airlines for the most up-to-date schedules.

Ryanair stuck to cancelling all flights until tomorrow.

Information from the UK air traffic control body, Nats, warned intensifying eruptions demonstrated the dynamic and rapidly changing circumstances created by the volcano.

UK authorities said airports in the North faced uncertain conditions in the morning while Scottish airports are expected to open at 7am.