Airline passenger news and views

Major airlines have announced a series of flight cancellations today, as the ash cloud from Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano enters the UK's airspace.

The ash cloud has already drifted across  parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland -- much of the country is likely to be affected later.

British Airways, KLM, easyJet, Loganair and Aer Lingus have all cancelled flights.

British Airways has cancelled flights between London and Scotland before 2pm.

Dutch airline KLM said 16 flights scheduled to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Newcastle are be cancelled, while Eastern Airways, based in Kirmington, north Lincolnshire, axed all flights.

EasyJet said it had cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen between 5am and 1pm today.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority today said that new arrangements put in place since last year's volcanic ash cloud would ensure high levels of public safety while helping to limit any disruption in the event that volcanic ash reaches UK airspace this week. But the CAA warned that disruption to aviation couldn't be ruled out.

The current weather outlook suggests that there is the possibility of ash reaching Scottish airspace from Tuesday onwards, and affecting other parts of the UK and Ireland later in the week.

The CAA is actively monitoring the situation and is in close touch with the Met Office, Department for Transport, airlines and airports and NATS, the UK air traffic services provider. The impact of volcanic ash on aviation would depend on weather patterns, and the nature and density of ash present in the airspace.

More information is available at the volcanic ash section of the CAA website at www.caa.co.uk/news

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