Severe restrictions to UK airspace affecting Manchester Airport

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have now confirmed that no flights will be permitted in UK controlled airspace until 07:00 tomorrow morning, Friday 16 April, at the earliest, due to the volcanic ash drifting across the country from Iceland.

As a result, all arriving and departing flights at Manchester remain suspended until further notice.

Advice to passengers is to check with your airline before you set off for the airport, if you are due to travel in the next 24 hours.

Flights in and out of England's airports remain suspended overnight after ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland drifted across the country.

All non-emergency flights from airports across the UK are grounded until at least 0700 BST on Friday.

The Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) imposed the restriction in line with international policy because of the danger to aircraft.

Tiny particles of rock, glass and sand in the cloud can damage engines.

Initially, Nats said all flights would be grounded from 1200 BST until 1800 BST.

In a statement, it said that the time had been extended because the cloud of volcanic ash had spread across the UK and was continuing to travel south.

A spokesman said: "In line with international civil aviation policy, no flights other than agreed emergencies are currently permitted in UK controlled airspace.

"Following a review of the latest Met Office information, Nats advises that these restrictions will remain in place in UK-controlled airspace until 7am tomorrow at the earliest."

It said further information from the Met Office would be reviewed at 2000 BST, when arrangements for Friday morning would be decided.

A British Airways spokesman said: "We have cancelled all our flights for the rest of the day.

"We will look at the situation for tomorrow a bit later in the day."

Manchester, Liverpool, Stansted, Newcastle, Southampton, Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Gatwick, Heathrow and Blackpool were already badly affected on Thursday morning.

Thousands of passengers across England were left stranded, waiting to hear what was happening with their flights.