5 May 2010

UK flights resume after ash air closure

11:30 am on 5 May 2010

Flights in and out of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic have resumed after being grounded for several hours owing to a fresh volcanic ash threat.

Services were cancelled from 0700 BST on Tuesday, but restarted at 1300 BST after it was confirmed the ash had dispersed.

Airspace shut over the Hebrides at 1800 BST on Monday, also reopened shortly after 1300 BST on Tuesday.

Ash is drifting from the same Icelandic volcano that caused flights to be halted for six days in April, because of fears of the effect of ash on plane engines.

The BBC reports the decision to lift the restrictions followed safety tests that showed the engines could cope in areas of low-density ash.