Majority of UK airspace reopens

22/04/2010

By Jeremy Price.

Some 2,600 flights moved through UK airspace yesterday (April 21st) up to 18:00 GMT, National Air Traffic Services (Nats) reports.

According to the organisation, flight levels were at around 80 per cent throughout the day, breaking the deadlock of movements since the volcanic eruption in Iceland last week.

Nats predicts that services to and from the UK will be running at a volume of 90 per cent today.

Due to figures from the Civil Aviation Authority that indicate sustained amounts of volcanic ash in the north of Scotland, airspace at or below 20,000 ft remains closed over the country until further notice.

However, high level oceanic travel over Scotland will continue as normal, the organisation notes.

UK airspace was shut on April 15th following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in accordance with international civil aviation policy.

Nats provide air traffic control at 15 UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.