TRAVEL DELAYS:THERE WILL be "significant" restrictions on flights in and out of Ireland until at least this morning as a result of the ash cloud from Iceland's volcanic eruption. Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights to several European countries will not resume until near lunchtime at the earliest.
The eruption at the Eyjafjallajökull glacier threw massive plumes of black ash and steam into the air, affecting large parts of northern Europe.
It became clear from early morning that flights in and out of all Irish airports would be grounded and a meeting of the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning was called for the afternoon.
The departments and agencies involved included the Department of Transport, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Tourism, An Garda Síochána, Met Éireann, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Dublin Airport Authority.
A spokesman for the IAA, which controls air traffic, said all flights in and out of Ireland would be significantly affected until at least 11am today.
He said the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in London had advised the authority that the plume of volcanic ash was being blown in Ireland’s direction.
“If this volcanic ash plume encroaches into our airspace, and all the signs are that it will [today], then planes will have to stay on the ground,” the spokesman said.
Hundreds of flights departing and arriving at Irish and British airports were cancelled yesterday and it appears thousands of passengers will also face disruption today.
“It is not safe for aircraft to fly into volcanic dust. The rock particles cause significant damage to the surface of the aircraft skin and the engine components.
“This dust can cause engines to shut down. The dust particles within a cloud of volcanic ash can also cause electrical faults,” the IAA said.
Aer Lingus flights departing and arriving at Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast, London Heathrow and Gatwick airports were cancelled.
The airline said all UK and European flights scheduled to depart Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast, London Gatwick and Heathrow up to 1pm today had been cancelled. Flights from Ireland to the US are expected to operate with delays, with the exception of flight EI 111 from Shannon to New York, which has been cancelled.
Customers with reservations on the other transatlantic flights to New York, Boston and Chicago are asked to arrive at the airport on time for check-in.
Aer Lingus said it had activated a change-for-free and refund request facility on its website for affected customers.
Ryanair cancelled some 600 flights yesterday – about 40 per cent of its scheduled total.
It said it would not operate any flights to or from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden or the UK before 1pm today.
BMI said it had “reluctantly” cancelled all flights yesterday and some operations today.
Air France also said it had experienced “severe disruptions” with cancellations and delayed flights. It also had a rebooking procedure in place on its website, it said.
All flights operating through Ireland West Airport Knock were cancelled, with the exception of the inbound Ryanair flight FR2451 from Faro and the outbound Ryanair flight FR2452 to Faro.
Some services from Northern Ireland’s three airports could begin at 7am today. All flights have been suspended until at least that time at Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove, George Best Belfast City Airport and City of Derry airport.
A small number of early-morning departures were allowed to take off yesterday before the National Air Traffic Services ban on flights came into force.
A Belfast City airport spokesman said: “If the circumstances change, we’re ready for business but at this stage it doesn’t look too promising.”
“The suspension is indefinite at the moment. We are planning for a full day of operation on Friday and a busy one at that, but at this stage we just can’t tell.” Among the thousands affected by the flights ban is the Ulster rugby squad, which had been due to fly to Scotland. The players are to make their way by ferry.
Irish Ferries said the flight cancellations had a “huge impact” on business and that extra staff were brought in to deal with reservations. The Jonathan Swift sailings from Dublin to Holyhead yesterday afternoon were “sold to capacity”. There was still space for passengers on ferry sailings today, the spokesman said.
A spokesman for Stena Line said it was “under siege”, with airline passengers seeking to make alternative arrangements. One ship had sailed at lunchtime “packed to the gunwales”.
The spokesman said that foot-passenger space was now limited on today’s sailings.