Flights cancelled across UK as Icelandic volcano cloud closes airports

Initially more than 150 Edinburgh flights up to 2pm were cancelled after the huge plume of ash moved into Scottish airspace overnight.

Later all non-emergency flights were grounded in the UK from noon until 7am tomorrow at the earliest.

The disruption, which also hit Irish and north European airspace, left thousands of travellers stranded at home and abroad.

A National Air Traffic Service (NATS) spokesman said: "This has been applied in accordance with international civil aviation policy.

"We continue to monitor the situation with the Met Office and work closely with airline customers and adjoining countries."

Thousands of "bemused" passengers were told the news when they arrived to check in at Edinburgh this morning.

Airport bosses made the decision to close at 2am as volcanic ash can clog up aeroplane engines and cause serious damage.

Passengers are asked to check with their airline before travelling to the airport if they are catching a flight.

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "There are a lot of bemused people around, thinking it's 1 April today, not 15 April. I think most people are just resigned as they realise it's outside our control.

"It's difficult to speculate when we'll reopen, but we are getting regular updates from air traffic controllers. There will be significant disruption today, and we advise passengers to check our website for updates.

The airport is offering free parking today for affected passengers.

At the airport, Bode Banjoko, a student at Dundee University, was scheduled to fly home to New York today to see his family.

The 30-year-old, who is studying oil and gas management, said: "I had to take time off of school and I have important family business to take care of, so my plans have really been disrupted.

"I'm just stuck now and trying to work out what to do next."

Gultekin Gurdal from Izmir, Turkey, was set to fly home after a business meeting in Edinburgh.

The 41-year-old librarian said: "My taxi driver told me that all flights were cancelled but I didn't believe it.

"Then I came to the airport and the airline told me 'yes, all flights are cancelled'. It's unbelievable, just unbelievable."

The travel disruption also caused Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable to cancel planned general election campaign visits to Edinburgh and Dunfermline today, the party said.

Matt Dobson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The concern is that as well as the eruption, the jet stream passing through Iceland is passing in a south-easterly direction, which will bring ash to the north of Scotland and Denmark and Norway. But it is impossible to say how much ash will come down.

"It could be a threat in these areas from now until tomorrow."

A spokesman for the NATS added: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.

"NATS is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."

Rochelle Turner, head of research for Which? Holiday magazine, said: "This is yet more bad news for air passengers in a year that has already seen much disruption to flights.

"Affected passengers are being offered a choice of a full refund or transfer on to another flight. But, airlines don't have to compensate passengers for loss of any additional elements to holidays, such as accommodation and car hire.

"It may be possible to claim for these additional elements on your travel insurance, but passengers will need to check their individual policies."

The East Coast rail company said it was extending its 6.30pm London to Newcastle service through to Edinburgh.

The British Lung Foundation's Professor Malcolm Green said: "The ash cloud that is presently over Scotland is unlikely to pose a health hazard to our lungs.

"This is because the cloud is at present high up in the atmosphere and not at ground level.

"However we would recommend anyone living with a lung condition to carry their medication as a precaution."

Anyone looking for advice was told to call the BLF Helpline on 08458 50 50 20.