Volcanic ash advice – UK Airports still closed

VOLCANIC ASH ADVICE & ALERT UPDATE – “No-fly” extended until 19.00 today MONDAY – Volcanic ash cloud showing extensive cover across UK.

Restrictions on flights from UK airports have been extended once again until 19.00 tonight (Monday).

Frances Tuke, Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA): “Under EU regulations you are entitled to a re-routing or a rescheduling of the flight, but if that’s not possible or suitable for you then you are entitled to a refund.

You wil not however, be entitled to any more compensation because of the fact that this was extraordinary circumstances, and certainly beyond the control of the airline.”

Air traffic control says it’s the first time “within living memory” that a natural disaster has caused such disruption.

The National Air Traffic Service extended the limitations, saying that the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland “shows continued and extensive cover of the UK”.

Its estimated that 150,000 Britons globally had been unable to return to the UK because of the flight restrictions first imposed on Thursday.

“At no time in living memory has British airspace been shut down and affected this many people,” a spokeswoman said.

Forecasters have warned the dust cloud generated by the Icelandic eruption may remain over the UK for several days.