Air travel restrictions - update

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have now confirmed that no flights will be permitted in UK controlled airspace until 1am tomorrow (Sunday 18 April), at the earliest, due to the volcanic ash that has drifted across the country from Iceland.

However, forecasters are expecting the situation to get worse before it gets better.

Today (Saturday 17 April) ash particles from the Icelandic volcano eruption are still present in UK airspace and are continuing to ground flights all over the country.

A spokesperson from NATS said: “There may be some airspace available within Scotland, Northern Ireland and England north of Leeds up till 1900 (UK time) today, which may enable some domestic flights to operate under individual coordination with Air Traffic Control. We will be coordinating this closely with airlines and airports. We would repeat, it is most unlikely that many flights will operate today and anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport. After 1900 (UK time) today, Met Office forecasts show the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the UK.

"We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that. We will advise further arrangements at approximately 2100 (UK time), today."

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

The airport has advised passengers to continue to check with their airline for the latest information.

The airport will have extra customer service and office staff in the terminals to give whatever assistance and support is possible to passengers.

The chaos began on Thursday after ash particles from the erupted volcano from the Eyjafjallajoekull region of Iceland entered UK airspace.

NATS initially said all flights would be grounded from 1200 BST until 1800 BST on Thursday.

They imposed the restriction in line with international policy because of the danger of the ash particles to aircraft engines.