Global General

Volcanic ash shuts airports in Scotland, Ireland

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-05 16:56
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LONDON - A new wave of dense volcanic ash from Iceland disrupted air traffic Wednesday in Scotland and Ireland and threatened to spill into England's airspace.

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority grounded flights at most airports in Scotland and Northern Ireland beginning at 7 am (0600GMT) Wednesday. However, services from the two regions' capitals, Edinburgh and Belfast, remained open.

The Irish Aviation Authority shut down services in some, but not all, airports in the Republic of Ireland. The key Irish hub, Dublin, planned to shut down its runways from 11 am to 5 pm (1000GMT to 1600GMT).

British authorities said Wednesday's ash cloud might reach northwestern England and Wales but would miss the key trans-Atlantic hub of London.