New volcanic ash cloud grounds more planes

Now travellers face a summer of disruption as new volcanic ash cloud closes airports in Ireland, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland...

Air passengers endured further travel misery today as Iceland's volcanic ash cloud prompted the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and forced the closure of a number of airports in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Hundreds of flights have already been cancelled by the fresh disruption and no fly zones are in place until at least 1pm.

In addition, forecasters warned that British holidaymakers could face a summer of ash disruption.

‘We could be faced with this periodically during the summer. We are probably facing a summer of uncertainty due to this ash cloud,' Eamonn Brennan, the chief executive of the Irish Aviation Authority said.

At the affected airports, disappointed passengers spoke of frustration at having their holiday plans wrecked. Mabel McGeachie, 62, from East Kilbride, Scotland, had her easyJet flight cancelled at Glasgow airport today.

She had been travelling to Malaga in Spain with 10 friends and relatives for her daughter's hen night and was told the next available flight was on Sunday, the day she was meant to return.

She said: 'We are feeling disappointed as we were looking forward to it and I don't think we'll be able to rearrange it. It was my daughter's hen do and her wedding is in July.'

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