Iceland volcano 2010 (Eyjafjallajökull)
UK airports reopen as volcanic ash cloud drifts west
Change in weather conditions could bring further disruption in coming days as Iceland volcano continues to erupt at full force
Flights resume at Glasgow airport as the volcanic ash cloud clears UK airspace, for now at least. Photograph: Derek Blair/AFP/Getty Images
Matthew Weaver and agencies
Thu 6 May 2010 03.10 EDT
No-fly zones were lifted today after the volcanic ash cloud moved west of UK air space, bringing relief to stranded passengers some of whom faced the prospect of missing the chance to vote in today's election.
All airports across the UK were open from 7am after restrictions placed on some airports in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the west country were lifted overnight by National Air Traffic Services (Nats).
Airports in the Republic of Ireland began reopening at 4am after the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) lifted restrictions. Three airports in the west of the country - Shannon, Galway and Knock - were due to open at 8am. Kerry airport was due to open at 9am.
A statement from Nats said: "The no-fly zone imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority tracking the high density area of the volcanic ash cloud has moved west overnight and has now cleared UK airspace."
The latest ash cloud forecasts from the Met Office show that the plume, with dense levels of ash that are a hazard to aircraft, has drifted into the Atlantic away from the British Isles.
But a change in weather conditions could bring further disruption in the coming days. The Icelandic Met Office warned that the eruptions from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano "will continue at full force in the next days".
Yesterday, travellers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were left stranded by the cancellation of hundreds of services.
Some passengers stranded in Ireland were considering taking ferries to get back in time to vote in today's election.
Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, accused the CAA of releasing a "vague" statement last night which suggested all Scottish airspace would be closed when Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were open for the first part of the day.
Salmond said: "Unnecessarily, some flights were cancelled, particularly into Edinburgh, because of the vagueness of the press release they [the CAA] put out.
"That can't be allowed to happen again. It's really, really important, where there are difficult messages, that press statements must be clear and not cause confusion."
Salmond added that the CAA had since apologised.
The CAA chief executive, Andrew Haines, yesterday warned that the ash cloud could cause disruption for "the foreseeable future".
"The situation for UK airspace, particularly over the north and Scotland, remains unprecedented.
"Scientists are tracking the cloud's movements constantly but its location changes frequently, depending on the strength of eruptions and prevailing winds.
"Ash is likely to continue to disrupt UK air travel for the foreseeable future and our advice to passengers is to listen to updates and contact their airline before leaving home if they are concerned their travel plans may be affected."