Global General

UK ready as volcanic ash heads for British skies

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-23 17:16

LONDON -- An ash cloud from Iceland could reach British airspace later this week, but a British official says the country is better prepared after an eruption last year shut down airports for five days.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday that Britain has more information on how ash clouds move and is less likely to have to enforce a blanket flight ban.

Smoke rise from the Grimsvotn volcano, under the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland May 21, 2011. Ash from a massive plume of smoke from an eruption of Iceland's most active volcano could spread south to parts of Europe next week, but experts on Sunday still hoped the impact on air travel would be limited. The eruption at Grimsvotn has so far hit only Iceland, which closed its international airspace. A thick cloud of ash blocked out the daylight at towns and villages at the foot of the glacier where the volcano lies and covered cars and buildings. Picture taken May 21, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Iceland shut its main airport Sunday after the Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano about 120 miles (200 kilometers) east of Reykjavik erupted. London's Met Office says the ash may reach British airspace later this week.

European flights were grounded last year after the Eyjafjallajokull (ay-yah-FYAH-lah-yer-kuhl) volcano erupted, leaving 10 million travelers stranded around the world.