Media

1600 6 May 2010: The Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed that, based on the latest charts and reports from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and Eurocontrol, there will be no restrictions in Irish airspace today.

However, passengers planning to travel by air over the coming days are advised to regularly check with their airlines and the IAA website in advance of going to the airport.

Reports from Iceland confirm further eruptions in the Eyjafjallajökul volcano over the past few hours. This has increased the level of ash emitted into the atmosphere and the height of the plume. As the current winds are northerly, the cloud is travelling across the Atlantic and is not affecting Irish airspace although the cloud size has substantially increased.

However if the winds change the larger concentrated ash cloud could be blown over Ireland, UK and Europe. This will result in traffic restrictions.

The Irish Aviation Authority is in constant contact with VAAC and the Central Flow Management Unit at Eurocontrol and is monitoring the path of the ash cloud in order to assess the impact it could have on air safety. See Chart.

An update will be issued at 2030hrs this evening.

ENDS