No restrictions on Irish airspace for at least next 24 hours,’ says IAA

THE IRISH AVIATION Authority has said that based on the latest information there will be no restrictions on Irish airspace for at least the next 24 hours and that all Irish airports remain open.

However there is significant disruption to flights in and out of Scotland and other parts of the UK with Ryanair this afternoon cancelling the remaining six scheduled flights out of Edinburgh airport today.

The IAA said it is in contact with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in London, Met Éireann, the Department of Transport, airlines, airports and also European air traffic service providers and that it expects to update the situation tonight at 9am.

However, thousands of passengers in the UK have faced disruption from the ash cloud spewing from the Grimsvotn volcano with airports in Londonderry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Durham Tees Valley, Newcastle and Carlisle all expected to be affected until this evening, BBC News reports.

The knock on effect for Irish passengers travelling to Scotland and other parts of the UK has become apparent with both Aer Lingus and Ryanair cancelling flights to Scottish airports earlier today.

Scottish airspace at 3.25pm today – closed (via Flightradar24.com)

As well as Scotland, Aer Arann flights between Dublin and Derry were also cancelled this morning, RTÉ reports with Easyjet and Jet2.com cancelling flights from Belfast International Airport.

Ryanair has been sharply critical of the decision to close Scottish airports saying it conducted a test flight over the so-called ‘red zone’ over Scotland where ash cloud is at a high density and said that “no evidence of ash was encountered in flight or during a post flight inspection.”

The airline had hoped to fly planes out of Edinburgh airport today and submitted a request to do so to the IAA. However, it has since emerged that the six remaining flights out of Edinburgh are now cancelled.

The airline has renewed its calls on both the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the IAA to reopen the airspace over Scotland and allow airlines to operate flights safely following their verification flight.

However, when contacted by TheJournal.ie this afternoon, the CAA said that it was Ryanair’s decision to cancel the remaining flights out of Edinburgh today.