The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has extended the closure of Irish airspace until 1pm tomorrow due to the deterioration in conditions caused by ash from an Icelandic volcano.
“The ash from the volcano is now being emitted to a higher level and thus the area of coverage and risk to aircraft has increased,” an Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) spokesman said today.
As a result no commercial passenger flights will operate from any Irish airport during this period. Flights from airports in Northern Ireland have been cancelled until at least 7am tomorrow. The IAA will provide an update at 11am tomorrow.
The Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning met earlier today at the National Emergency Co-ordinating Centre in Dublin to discuss the issue. It said there was no evidence of any change in air quality due to the ash and has advised intending travellers to check with their airline in advance of travel.
Met Éireann said at the briefing it does not expect any “significant surface deposition of ash in the short term” and added that prevailing weather conditions may remain unchanged until late next week, which could result in prolonged disruption to flights.
This afternoon Ryanair said that with the exception of southern continental Europe the path of the volcanic ash was now affecting the majority of European airspace. The airline yesterday cancelled all its flights in northern Europe until 1pm on Monday.
Aer Lingus said all UK, European and US flights scheduled to depart Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast, London Heathrow and Gatwick today have been cancelled, including all regional flights.
The European aviation control agency Eurocontrol said today air traffic disruption because of the spread of volcanic ash will continue for at least the next 24 hours.
No landings or takeoffs were possible for civilian aircraft in most of northern and central Europe today, but flights were taking place in southern Europe, including Spain, the southern Balkans, southern Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
Eurocontrol said it expected 6,000 flights in European airspace today, against 22,000 normally. "Forecasts suggest that the cloud of volcanic ash will persist and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours".
The World Health Organisation said yesterday that particulate matter in the ash did not pose a health hazard so long as it remained in the upper atmosphere.
When ash enters the lower atmosphere in high concentrations, people with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis could suffer irritation, the WHO said.
It advised people to go indoors if they noticed irritation in their throat and lungs, a runny nose or itchy eyes.