Media

Based on current information, Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Waterford, Kerry, and Galway airports will be open until 1600 hrs local on Sunday 9th May. Donegal, Sligo, and Ireland West (Knock) airports will operate normally until 1400 hrs when restrictions may apply. The position regarding restrictions will be confirmed at 0930 hrs tomorrow morning.

Flights to and from North America and the Northern Iberian Peninsula may continue to be at risk tomorrow, but passengers should check with their airline.

The volcano is still moderately active, and by late Sunday, due to an expected change in wind direction, the risk exists that the plume may drift again over Irish airspace, and may affect Irish airports, especially on the West Coast.

Over the past number of days a large cloud of high ash concentration has remained off the west coast of Ireland, and this has caused difficulty to some Trans Atlantic operations. The cloud has drifted West, but has adopted a crescent pattern in an arc that runs from Northern Spain to Northern Scotland. This has caused some disruptions to flights to Northern Spain and other parts of the Iberian peninsula.

The Irish Aviation Authority is in constant contact with Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) and the Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) at Eurocontrol, and is monitoring the path of the ash cloud in order to assess the impact it could have on air safety. The cloud, which can be viewed here, currently measures approximately 1,200 miles long and 1,300 miles wide.

A further update will be issued at 0930 tomorrow Sunday 9th May 2010.

Passengers planning to travel by air over the coming days are advised to regularly check their airline websites and the IAA website in advance of going to the airport.

Media contacts:

Ken Rogan: 086 317 9955